SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Rape: Victim Support

Katy Clark: To ask the Solicitor-General what further steps she plans to take to provide support for women's victims and rape support groups.

Vera Baird: The steps we are taking include: a £1.6 million cross-Government fund for the sexual violence voluntary sector to provide grants to individual support groups; and a cross-Government consultation on ending violence against women and girls, which is informed by the Crown Prosecution Service's ground-breaking Violence against Women Strategy.

Rape: Victim Support

John Robertson: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she plans to take to provide support during rape cases brought by the Crown Prosecution Service for those who have been raped.

Vera Baird: The CPS is committed to helping rape victims and is contributing to the cross-Government initiative to increase the number of Sexual Assault Referral Centres providing vital support to victims. An updated edition of the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Rape, designed to inform those who support victims, was published last week.

Shoplifting

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful prosecutions for shoplifting have been brought in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The records maintained by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not separately identify cases of theft or burglary from shops. The information could only be retrieved by locating and examining individual case records and the costs of such an exercise would be prohibitive. Information is, however, available on the performance of the CPS in prosecuting all cases of theft and handling in the magistrates court. In 2008, the CPS prosecuted 141,159 cases of which 131,927 (93.5 per cent.) resulted in a conviction.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biodiversity

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken towards meeting its 2010 biodiversity target; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We have taken steps on all our six priorities, but let me highlight also 88 per cent. of sites of special scientific interest which are in favourable or recovering condition, the agri-environment schemes which are making good progress, we have introduced the Marine Bill and Coastal Access Bill and have funded new international work under the Darwin initiative.

Sheep

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in discussions at EU level on the European Commission's proposals for the electronic identification of sheep.

Hilary Benn: We have postponed the introduction of EID to 31 December 2009, delayed the introduction of individual movement reporting, and reached an agreement that sheep born before 31 December 2009 and sheep under 12 months both moving to slaughter will not have to be reported individually at all. EID was discussed again at the Agriculture Council on 23 March and the Commission agreed to examine additional measures that we have proposed that would reduce further the burden on implementation.

Common Agricultural Policy

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he had on simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy at the last Agriculture and Fisheries Council; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Farming and the Environment attended the last Agriculture Council, at which the Commission presented its progress report on "A simplified CAP". It will be discussed at the April meeting and the UK strongly supports reducing administrative burdens on farmers.

Common Agricultural Policy

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what items his Department has requested to be added to the agenda of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Since 2005, the United Kingdom has requested the following items to be added to the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council agenda: the market situation in the olive oil sector; thematic strategy for soil protection; illegal use of drift nets; illegal logging and related trade in timber and timber products; foot and mouth disease; sheep electronic identification. The UK regularly intervenes on both substantive and AOB items during Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings.

Animal Welfare

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on steps to ensure that food imported from outside the EU meets animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK supports high welfare standards and works to raise them elsewhere in the world. We encourage producers to see higher standards as a marketing opportunity, and we look forward to the EU Commissions report on animal welfare labelling in the EU.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria he plans to apply in selecting the trial areas for the bovine tuberculosis vaccination pilot project.

Hilary Benn: We are currently working with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England, epidemiologists and other industry and stakeholder groups to identify criteria for selecting the areas where the bovine TB injectable badger vaccine deployment project will take place.

Water Charges

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made in his consideration of options for mitigating the effects on water customers of increases in surface water charges.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I am pleased to report that United Utilities—where most complaints have arisen—has in light of representations received taken steps to resolve the problem of disproportionate increases in bills for faith buildings, community amateur sports clubs and properties owned by scouts and guides for 2009-10 by reverting to charges based on 2007-08 for these customers—i.e. based on rateable waste.

Water Charges

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the real terms change in water rates has been since privatisation of the water industry.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 24 March 2009
	 I have arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Anaerobic Digestion

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made on encouraging the use of anaerobic digestion of waste.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Government encourage greater uptake of anaerobic digestion by both local authorities and businesses through the renewable obligation certificates, the anaerobic digestion programme, publications and working groups.
	Progress is being made. I believe we can create a prosperous anaerobic digestion market that benefits society, the environment and businesses.

Air Quality

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the effects of the London low emissions zone on air quality in London boroughs.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Mayor of London is responsible for working towards DEFRA's national air quality objectives in London. My noble Friend, Lord Hunt of King's Heath, met with the Mayor on 22 January to discuss progress, and my officials have had regular meetings with counterparts in the Greater London Authority to discuss measures including the low emissions zone. The Government are committed to working with the Mayor and London boroughs to improve air quality in London.

Bees

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the size of the bee population.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There are no estimates for how the number of honey bees has changed over the years, but there is a wide consensus that numbers have declined since the arrival of Varroa in the early nineties.
	The Secretary of State recently announced additional funding of £4.3 million for bee health which includes a contribution to a wider research programme on pollinator decline.

School Fruit Scheme

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with fruit growers on the proposal to extend the school fruit scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The idea for an EU School Fruit Scheme was first raised as part of the 2007 reform of the EU Fruit and Vegetables Regime. We have kept the National Farmers Union involved with the progress of proposals and will continue to do so. We are also in touch with other parts of the industry, for example via the Horticultural Development Company.

Common Fisheries Policy

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the recreational fisheries proposals in Article 47 of the proposed Council Regulation on compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Discussion of the proposal has now begun at official level at a Council Working Group. I am expecting an initial discussion at ministerial level at the June Fisheries Council.

Flood Defences: East Anglia

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives of local authorities in East Anglia to discuss flood defences.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have no current engagements planned with representatives of local authorities in East Anglia to discuss flood defences, but have agreed to meet representatives of North Norfolk district council in the summer to discuss coastal adaptation issues.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of farmers in  (a) North Devon constituency,  (b) the South West and  (c) nationally whose countryside stewardships have been completed have entered Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Separate information on the uptake of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements on former Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) agreement land is not currently available in the form requested, nor is information available for individual constituencies.
	Natural England has a target to get 80 per cent. of the land formerly in either CSS or Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) agreements into Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements (Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) or HLS). Nationally, about 79 per cent. of that land has already been entered into ES agreements. In the South West region the figure is about 75 per cent.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the six areas for the vaccination trial to reduce the transmission of bovine tuberculosis from wildlife will be chosen.

Jane Kennedy: We are working in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England, epidemiologists and other key industry and stakeholder groups to identify criteria for selecting the areas where the project will take place.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to maximise the catch rate for badgers prior to vaccination to reduce levels of bovine tuberculosis in the proposed trials.

Jane Kennedy: The methodologies have not yet been finalised. However, we are working with experts from the Food and Environment Research Agency, formerly the Central Science Laboratory, to optimise our approach to trapping for vaccination.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on the vaccination of badgers against bovine tuberculosis in the next 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Vaccination of badgers as part of the injectable badger vaccine deployment project is expected to begin in summer 2010. Costs for the project have not yet been finalised and will vary depending on the areas vaccination will take place, as well as other factors.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long he expects his Department's scheme for the vaccinations of badgers against bovine tuberculosis to operate for.

Jane Kennedy: We intend for vaccination of badgers to commence in summer 2010 and to take place for at least five years in each area.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of badgers which will be vaccinated against bovine tuberculosis under his Department's vaccination scheme.

Jane Kennedy: We are aiming to vaccinate as many badgers as possible in the areas the project will take place.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which areas of the country he expects his Department's scheme to vaccinate badgers against bovine tuberculosis to operate.

Jane Kennedy: The project will see vaccination of badgers in six areas with high incidence of cattle disease in England. Each area will be up to 100km(2). The exact locations are yet to be decided and decisions will be made based on specific criteria and in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England and other key industry and stakeholder groups.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with farmers on his Department's scheme to vaccinate badgers against bovine tuberculosis;
	(2)  what representations he has received from the Countryside Alliance on his Department's scheme to vaccinate badgers against bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: We have had discussions with a variety of stakeholder groups about the injectable badger vaccine deployment project, including with the farming industry. We will be holding further discussions to develop criteria for selecting the areas where the project will take place.
	We have not received any representations from the Countryside Alliance.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Huw Irranca-Davies: It is not departmental policy, nor that of DEFRA's executive agencies, to offer staff either  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping or  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Coastal Areas: Climate Change

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the risk posed to seaside communities by rising sea levels; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has a crucial role in understanding the impacts of future climate change on sea level rise in England; the National Assembly for Wales has a similar role in Wales. Much work is under way to understand fully the latest evidence on climate change. The UK climate projections 2009 will, in the coming months, offer a Marine Report providing an update on possible future sea level rise and surge.
	The Environment Agency, in its coastal strategic overview role, is developing a better understanding of what coastal risk to people and properties means at a national level. Its National Flood Risk Assessment is currently being refined to report on the latest risks, and the rolling programme of shoreline management plans will also offer policies for tackling sections of shoreline in England, covering the next 100 years. DEFRA's coastal change project is developing approaches to help communities adapt to coastal risk.
	In terms of past reporting on the impacts from sea level rise, the Government commissioned Foresight Future Flooding (2004) which highlighted the following impacts:
	There might be a rise in the expected average annual damages due to flooding from about £1.4 billion to as much as £27 billion by 2080 if action is not taken now.
	Coastal erosion could increase substantially. The annual average damage might increase by a multiple of three to nine by the 2080s, although the worst case (£126 million per year) is still much less than current annual average damages for flooding.

Dairy Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of dairy farmers in England in 2008.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The following figures show the number of full and part-time farmers, partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding) in England at June 2008 on holdings where dairy is the predominant activity.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Total farmers, partners, directors and spouses on dairy holdings 20,122 
			 Total holdings where dairy is the predominant activity 10,112 
			  Source:  June Agricultural Survey.

Departmental Absenteeism

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff of his Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost to his Department and (ii) number of working hours lost as a result of such absence; and what guidance his Department issued to staff in respect of absence on those days.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Central records of non-medical absences are held for staff who are on special leave, maternity leave, paternity leave or career breaks. 270 staff in DEFRA, Animal Health, the Government Decontamination Service, the Marine and Fisheries Agency, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate were recorded as being absent for these reasons on 2 or 3 February or both. Information for the other agencies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Staff who were unable to travel to the office because of heavy snow on these days were able to work from home using either their DEFRA laptop or web mail. A peak of 1,500 people were recorded on the Department's IT systems as having logged in concurrently from home during the week commencing 2 February. Staff who were unable to travel to the office or work from home may, with the agreement of their manager, have taken annual leave, flexible working hours leave or flexible hours credit, for which central records are not kept.
	Guidance issued to staff referred to the following statement:
	"Appropriate credit time may be given for any unavoidable delays in arriving at work or unavoidable absences from work due to transport disruption or other exceptional circumstances such as extremely severe weather or for early departure for the same reason".
	No estimate has been made of any cost to the Department or the number of working hours lost on these days.

Departmental Annual Reports

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Excluding staff costs, information held centrally shows that (i) DEFRA's 2008 departmental report cost £18,102 in external production and publication expenses and (ii) DEFRA's 2008 autumn performance report cost nothing to produce and publish (it was published only on the internet). An estimate of the staff costs involved could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA expects its providers of cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products to test their products on animals only where there is a legal requirement to do so, and to comply with REACH (the EU regulation concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals).

Departmental Food

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the  (a) monetary value and  (b) quantity of food disposed of from his Department's premises in the last 12 months.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 19 March 2009
	From information held centrally, the amount of food waste generated in the period January 2008 to December 2008 was a gross figure of 29,829 kg. This waste was turned into compost through bio-chemical bacterial anaerobic action producing a net figure of 20,843 kg of compost. The compost generated from the waste collected at DEFRA sites is not sent to landfill but given away to charities and local gardening schemes.

Departmental Lost Property

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether officials in his Department who have lost laptops that were the property of his Department in the last 12 months have been charged the full value of replacement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: This Department's IT services were outsourced to IBM in October 2004 at which point all IT equipment became the property of the new service provider. In instances where such equipment has been lost, officials have not been charged with replacement costs.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) capital and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Huw Irranca-Davies: As announced in the Chancellor's pre-Budget report in November 2008, in 2009-10, DEFRA is planning to bring forward £20 million capital spending on Environment Agency flood risk management and £5 million for British Waterways capital spending on network infrastructure maintenance. No resource budgets are being brought forward.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Huw Irranca-Davies: As announced in the Chancellor's pre-Budget report in November 2008, in 2009-10, DEFRA is planning to bring forward from 2010-11 £20 million capital spending on Environment Agency flood risk management and £5 million for British Waterways capital spending on network infrastructure maintenance.

Departmental Responsibilities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibilities have been assigned to the Minister for Animal Welfare in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: Since 2005, three Ministers have been responsible for the animal welfare brief in DEFRA; Ben Bradshaw from 5 May 2006 to 5 May 2007, Lord Rooker from 6 May 2007 to 2 October 2008 and Jane Kennedy from 3 October 2008. Their current or past responsibilities are listed as follows:
	 Ben Bradshaw (5 May 2006 to 5 May 2007)
	Air quality and noise
	Animal health and welfare strategy
	Animal Welfare Bill
	Fisheries
	Lead role on planning, regional, and local government issues
	Local environmental quality
	Marine issues (including Marine Bill and OSPAR)
	SVS, VLA, VMD
	Waste
	Departmental Sustainable Development Minister
	UK spokesperson at Agriculture Council
	 Lord Rooker (6 May 2007 to 2 October 2008)
	Farming for the future programme
	Rural Payments Agency
	Food chain programme, stakeholder engagement and delivery chain core functions
	Animal welfare core function
	Exotic disease policy and delivery change programmes
	Emergency response capability
	Bovine TB programme
	CAP reform and EU strategy programmes, evidence and knowledge base core functions
	Better regulation
	Endemic disease core functions
	Veterinary policy and agencies
	Animal health
	Central Science Laboratory
	Departmental administration
	Responsibility and cost sharing programme
	 Jane Kennedy (3 October 2008 onwards)
	Agriculture
	Farming for the future programme
	Rural Payments Agency
	Food chain programme, stakeholder engagement and delivery chain core functions
	Animal welfare
	Exotic animal disease policy programme and emergency response capability
	Bovine TB programme
	Endemic animal disease core functions
	Veterinary policy and agencies
	Animal health
	CAP reform and EU strategy programmes, evidence and knowledge base
	Responsibility and cost sharing programme
	Waste and recycling
	Environment Agency
	Minister for the Horse
	Food and Environment Research Agency

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Measuring progress on public service agreement targets is an intrinsic part of driving delivery of those targets. The only additional cost of measuring compliance with the targets comes from reporting delivery progress to Parliament, for which I refer the hon. Member to my answer to PQ 266695.

Departmental Training

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months.

Huw Irranca-Davies: 'Voice coaching' is not a term recognised in our internal management-information systems, so information is not available.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 7W, which Ministers attended each training course; what the name of each course was; and how much each course cost.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Ministers in DEFRA have taken the following personal training courses at public expense since 1 January 2008:
	
		
			  Training course  Number of Ministers 
			 Communications training 1 
			 Media training 1 
			 Leadership training 1

Energy: EU Law

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has received raising concerns on the implementation of the Energy Using Products Directive; whether his Department is planning for the Directive to be implemented by 2013; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Directive.

Jane Kennedy: The EU's Framework Directive for the Eco-design of energy-using Products (2005/32/EC) was transposed into UK law on 11 August 2007 (SI 2007 No 2037). Eco-design requirements for individual product areas are established via implementing measures as set out in the framework. Up to 10 March 2009, five implementing measures have been voted on and approved by member states. Further measures are expected to be negotiated over the next year.
	Officials in DEFRA engage stakeholders on the development of implementing measures in a variety of ways, including consulting on the European Commission's draft proposals, holding quarterly stakeholder events attended by industry representatives, green and consumer NGOs, and by engaging directly with stakeholders on a one-to-one basis, as appropriate.
	The Government fully support the implementation of eco-design requirements on energy-using appliances.

Farmers: Income

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the average income of a sheep farmer;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of sheep farmers who had an income of less than £10,000 in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 30 March 2009
	Information is not published separately for specialist sheep farmers. These are included within the broader category of grazing livestock farms for the purpose of this analysis. Data from the Farm Business Survey(1) show that the average Farm Business Income in 2007-08 was £10,400 on grazing livestock farms in the Less Favoured Area (LFA)(2) and £12,400 on grazing livestock farms in the lowland(3). Approximately 53 per cent. of grazing livestock farmers in the LFA had a farm business income lower that £10,000. For grazing livestock farmers in the lowlands the figure was 55 per cent.
	Farm business income is the headline measure of the profitability of farm businesses. It represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings.
	(1) The Farm Business Survey sample covers businesses with a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of at least 0.5, i.e. a size considered sufficient to occupy a farmer for at least half their time.
	(2) Farms with more than two-thirds of their total standard gross margin (SGM) in cattle and sheep except holdings classified as dairy. A farm is classified as in the LFA if 50 per cent. or more of its total area is in the EC Less Favoured Area (both disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged).
	(3) Farms with more than two-thirds of their total SGM in cattle and sheep except holdings classified as dairy. A farm is classified as "lowland" if less than 50 per cent. of its total area is in the EU Less Favoured Area.

Fisheries

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what species of non-quota fish are available to be caught by craft under 10 metres seeking to fish  (a) in the English Channel,  (b) in the Thames Estuary and  (c) off the North Foreland.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 31 March 2009
	Non-Total Allowable Catch (TAC) species make up 82 per cent. of the landings of UK under-10m vessels in the English Channel. Almost 90 per cent. of this is shellfish such as whelks, scallops, crabs and cuttlefish. The remainder is a diverse range of fish species including bass, anchovy, mullet and lemon sole.
	Fisheries data are collected by statistical rectangle and it is not possible to provide figures specifically for the Thames Estuary or North Foreland. However, the non-quota shellfish cockles make up almost 100 per cent. of landings of under-10m vessels from the inner Thames estuary inside Whitstable.
	Non-quota species make up 60 per cent. of the landings of <10m vessels operating in the outer Thames estuary and the remaining coastline from Folkestone to Felixstowe, including North Foreland. Almost 90 per cent. of this is shellfish including cockles, scallops, whelks, crabs and lobsters. The remainder is fish such as bass, dogfish and mullet.
	The following tables summarise data from the Fleet Activity Database for 2008(1), giving tonnes landed by <10m UK vessels in 2008.
	(1 )Held by the Marine and Fisheries Agency.
	
		
			  English Channel (ICES Div Vlld and Vlle) 
			   Tonnes  Percentage  
			 TAC spp 2,489 19 — 
			 Non TAC fish 1,274 10 Mainly bass, anchovy, grey mullet, lemon sole, pilchards, turbot and other demersal species 
			 Non TAC shellfish 9,475 72 Mainly whelks, scallops, crabs and cuttlefish 
		
	
	
		
			  Outer Thames  e stuary rectangles 31F1 and 32F1—including from Folkestone to Whitstable (including Foreland) and Brightlingsea to Felixstowe 
			   Tonnes  Percentage  
			 TAC spp 673 40 — 
			 Non TAC fish 116 7 Mainly bass, smooth-hound, dogfish, mullet 
			 Non TAC shellfish 907 53 Cockles, scallops, whelks, crabs, lobsters, oysters 
		
	
	
		
			  Inner Thames  e stuary (out to Whitstable) rectangles 31F0 and 32F0 
			   Tonnes  Percentage  
			 TAC spp 28 0 — 
			 Non TAC fish 4 0 Mainly mullet, bass 
			 Non TAC shellfish 10,105 100 Mainly cockles 
		
	
	A full species list has been placed in the Library of the House.

Flood Control

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when each planned flooding and coastal protection project is planned to be started; whether the start of any planned project has been deferred; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency's Medium Term Plan for England is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and includes those flood and coastal risk management capital schemes being delivered by the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards.
	The Plan includes schemes funded in the 2008-09 financial year (from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009); schemes that have been given an indicative allocation of funding for the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11; and schemes planned for 2011-12 and 2012-13 subject to funding being available.
	The Plan shows the current start date for each scheme. The Plan is constantly changing to reflect progress in developing, approving, designing and constructing a project. Projects are delayed for many reasons including securing planning permissions and other permissions from local authorities and others, prioritisation of the programme and funding availability.
	30 Environment Agency projects (each with a construction budget of over £250,000) have been identified for implementation in the 2007-08 Medium Term Plan. Two of these projects are currently not being progressed.
	The Ipswich Flood Defence Management Strategy civil works is on hold as it is rescheduled for implementation in 2011-12 as part of the delivery of the Ipswich strategy. This project has a budget of £544,500.
	The Ashburton Ballard Stream Improvements project has closed as the scheme is not economically viable. This project spent £31,500 on the pre-feasibility study.

Flood Control

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the Environment Agency to publish its updated flood risk maps.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency makes local updates to the flood risk maps on its website on a quarterly basis. The latest update took place on 26 March 2009.
	The Environment Agency plans to publish the latest national flood risk assessment information on its website in the spring. This will provide a major upgrade to the Environment Agency's flood risk maps.

Flood Control

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households in England are considered to have a greater than 1 in 75 annual probability of flooding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency published its latest national flood risk assessment in 2006. This showed that 392,800 residential properties were at significant risk of flooding. Significant risk is defined as a greater than one in 75 annual probability of flooding.

Flood Control: Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on flooding and coastal protection projects in areas at risk from  (a) fluvial and coastal flooding and  (b) coastal erosion in each of the last three years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The following table shows the total funding that was allocated to the Environment Agency as flood defence grant in aid over the last three years.
	
		
			   Total funding (£ million) 
			 2006-07 419 
			 2007-08 439 
			 2008-09 495 
		
	
	The following table shows funding allocated by the Environment Agency to capital projects and revenue expenditure. The allocation process ensures that resources are directed to the locations with the highest risk of flooding.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Capital  Revenue 
			 2006-07 189 230 
			 2007-08 203 236 
			 2008-09 238 257 
		
	
	The following table shows the additional coastal erosion grants that were allocated to coastal authorities.
	
		
			   Coastal grants (£ million) 
			 2006-07 65 
			 2007-08 49 
			 2008-09 30 
			  Source: DEFRA website and Environment Agency financial records.

Floods: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many warnings of floods affecting  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex have been issued by the Environment Agency in each year of the last 10 years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The following table shows that 496 flood watches, flood warnings and severe flood warnings were issued in East Sussex since September 2000 (the date from which Environment Agency data are available), of which 58 were issued for Eastbourne.
	
		
			  Year (starting from September)  Watches  Warnings  Severe Warnings  Total 
			  East Sussex 
			 2000 54 48 21 123 
			 2001 40 21 2 63 
			 2002 79 23 0 102 
			 2003 21 9 0 30 
			 2004 20 2 0 22 
			 2005 11 0 0 11 
			 2006 33 0 0 33 
			 2007 30 0 0 30 
			 2008 33 18 0 51 
			 2009 17 14 0 31 
			 Total — — — 496 
			  
			  Eastbourne 
			 2000 11 4 0 15 
			 2001 3 0 0 3 
			 2002 12 2 0 14 
			 2003 3 0 0 3 
			 2004 2 1 0 3 
			 2005 1 0 0 1 
			 2006 9 0 0 9 
			 2007 3 0 0 3 
			 2008 5 0 0 5 
			 2009 2 0 0 2 
			 Total — — — 58 
			  Source: The Environment Agency's Flood Warnings Direct service and Environment Agency historic databases

Floods: Property Development

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which planning authorities have made representations to the Environment Agency seeking as waiver of the restrictions on building in flood risk areas since 27 January; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The Environment Agency has no powers to either restrict or waive restrictions on building in flood risk areas. The Environment Agency is a consultee in the planning process, providing technical advice and information on the flood risk implications of development proposals. The Environment Agency may object to developments that do not comply with planning policy statement 25—Development and Flood Risk, but the final planning decision rests with the local planning authority.

Fly Tipping

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which 10 local authority areas experienced the greatest tonnage of fly-tipped waste in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA does not hold the information requested. While instances of fly-tipping are recorded, tonnages are not.

Food and Environment Research Agency

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expenditure was of each of the offices and services merged to form the Food and Environment Research Agency in each of the last 10 years; what buildings are occupied by each such constituent office; and what plans he has for the future location of that agency.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The annual expenditure of each of the different services now merged to form FERA is shown in the tables.
	The buildings currently occupied by the constituent offices forming FERA are also shown in the tables.
	The Agency has no immediate plans to consolidate onto one site in each city other than in York, where a small number of former PHD staff will move to Sand Hutton and in Cambridge where a small number of PHSI staff will be relocated.
	Any future office moves will be driven by the need to improve sustainability and value for money.
	
		
			  Site name  Name 
			 Beverley, Crosskill House PHSI 
			 Bury St. Edmunds, Government Buildings, Southgate Street PHSI 
			 Cambridge, Eastbrook (staff moving to Whitehouse Lane) PHSI 
			 Cambridge, Whitehouse Lane (PVS) PVS 
			 Chelmsford, Government Buildings PHSI 
			 Chichester, City Business Centre PHSI 
			 Chorley, West Business Park—Unit 6 PHSI 
			 Crewe Electra Way—Building PHSI 
			 Exeter, Clyst House PHSI 
			 Felixstowe Trelawney House PHSI 
			 Gatwick, Gatwick Airport PHSI 
			 Gloucester, Woodchester Park CSL 
			 Hereford Whitestone Business Park PHSI 
			 Heathrow,Vista Business Ctre—Suite 32 Heathrow PHSI 
			 Kings Lynn Vancouver House PHSI 
			 Kirton Middlecott House PHSI 
			 Leeds, Government Buildgs—Wing 16 PHSI 
			 Lewes Medwyn House PHSI 
			 Lincoln Ceres House PHSI 
			 Llandrindod PHSI 
			 London, Millbank PHSI 
			 Manchester Rm 001 and 002 Bldg 308, World Freight Terminal PHSI 
			 Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Quadrant Hse PHSI 
			 Northallerton, Alverton Court—Unit 1 PHSI 
			 Northampton Beaumont House PHSI 
			 Norwich, Gilders Way, Norwich PHSI 
			 Nottingham, Chalfont Drive—Room 16 Spur G PHSI 
			 Reading Government Buildings, Coley Park, Reading PHSI 
			 Sheerness Anchor House PHSI 
			 Shrewsbury Whitehall Monkmoor Road PHSI 
			 RAF Stafford (GDS) GDS 
			 Stafford, Beacon House, Animal Health PHSI 
			 Stevenage Richmond Hse PHSI 
			 Swansea, Department for Environment office, Swansea PHSI 
			 Taunton Quantock House PHSI 
			 Tilbury, St. Andrew's House, Essex PHSI 
			 Trowbridge, Longacre House PHSI 
			 Truro—Pydar House PHSI 
			 Truro—Polwhele, (Phytophthera unit) PHSI 
			 Winchester Cromwell House PHSI 
			 Witney, Long Hanborough, Witney PHSI 
			 Worcester, Whittington Road—Block B PHSI 
			 Wye, Ashford, Kent PHSI 
			 York, Sand Hutton CSL 
			 York, Foss House PHD 
			 York, Foss House PHSI 
		
	
	
		
			  Total expenditure are as merged to form Food and Environment Research Agency 
			   CSL  GDS( 1)  PVS( 2)  PHD incl. PHSI( 3) 
			 1998-99 39,810 — — — 
			 1999-2000 34,609 — 5,554 — 
			 2000-01 37,052 — 5,190 — 
			 2001-02 40,125 — 5,037 7,903 
			 2002-03 43,000 — 4,902 9,541 
			 2003-04 41,583 — 4,931 8,908 
			 2004-05 43,623 — 6,308 9,559 
			 2005-06 46,540 950 6,381 9,601 
			 2006-07 48,213 2,204 4,472 11,658 
			 2007-08 47,594 1,979 2,485 11,310 
			 (1) GDS only operated as an Agency from October 2005. (2) Uncertainty over some figures, especially 2007-08, prior years information not available. (3) Based on 'admin' and 'programme' allocations not actual expenditure, prior years information not available.

Food Supply

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure the security of food supply.

Hilary Benn: By any objective standard, the UK enjoys a high degree of food security. DEFRA has a new co-ordination role for food policy across Government and a new departmental strategic objective for a sustainable, secure and healthy food supply. We are working with our stakeholders to ensure that our food remains sustainably produced, distributed and consumed in future, and that it is available and affordable for all sectors of society.

Fuels: RAF Fairford

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken in relation to the fuel spillage at RAF Fairford on 25 February 2009; and what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the spillage on  (a) water supply and  (b) plant and animal life.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency was notified by the Ministry of Defence of the aviation fuel spill on 25 February 2009 and attended the air force base immediately. The Environment Agency found that the fuel had affected local ground and a surface water ditch off site. The Ministry of Defence put into operation their emergency response plan to contain and clean up the spill.
	The Environment Agency attended the site for three days afterwards and ensured that the Ministry of Defence investigated the full impact of the spill to the local environment: this included surveys to ensure no fuel had affected local groundwater.
	The Environment Agency has also completed an investigation which has shown no effect on water supply. A local ditch had been recently cleared by the landowner and contained no notable plant and animal life. The Environment Agency continues to work with the Ministry of Defence to ensure they remove all the fuel and contaminated soil from the site.

Members: Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 5 November 2008, transferred from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, on energy conservation.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	I replied to the letter on 31 March 2009 and apologise for the delay in replying, which was due to departmental reorganisation.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 9 December 2008 sent on behalf of Mr. Andrew Mearman of Thornbury, on cross-contamination of GM crops.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have recently sent a reply to the hon. Member for Northavon.

Pigs: Animal Welfare

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Farm Animal Welfare Council on tail-docking and teeth clipping in growing pigs.

Jane Kennedy: At the Government's request, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) is conducting a study on the mutilations of growing pigs. Both tail docking and teeth clipping are included in the study. FAWC has recently published a consultation on the issue and the intention is that the Committee's opinion will be submitted to Ministers in summer 2010.

Power Stations: EU Law

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1330W, on power stations: EC law, whether the Environment Agency plans to apply derogations for plants from the provisions of the EU Large Combustion Plant Directive.

Jane Kennedy: The Environment Agency already applies, where sought, the derogations provided in Article 5(1) and paragraph 2 of Part A of Annex VIII of the Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/80/EC). These relate respectively to the emission limit value for sulphur dioxide for existing plants operating less than 2,000 hours annually and to monitoring requirements in specified circumstances. The Environment Agency is aware there is no need to consider granting the derogations in Article 7 which refer to breakdown or a sudden change in fuel use.

Power Stations: EU Law

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1330W, on power stations: EC law, whether his Department plans to make further provisions in relation to the operation of power stations to which derogations from the EU Large Combustion Plant Directive are applied.

Jane Kennedy: Derogations contained in the Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/20/EC) are for the competent authority (the Environment Agency in England and Wales) to apply as it sees fit in the light of discussion with the plant operator concerned. DEFRA has no plans to make provisions in that respect.

Private Finance Initiative

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts under the private finance initiative his Department has entered into in each of the last four years; and what the monetary value of each was.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not entered into any private finance initiative contracts in any of the last four years.
	The Department facilitates local authorities to enter into PFI contracts in the waste sector using credits provided through HM Treasury, but it is not itself one of the parties in these deals.

Seal Products: EU Action

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking at EU level to encourage a prohibition on seal products entering the EU.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Commission proposals for a ban on the import of seal products into the EU were discussed for the first time by the Council of Ministers on 20 October. The Czech presidency has committed to getting agreement, on a workable ban before the end of this term in the European Parliament and we are working closely with the Council and other member states to support these efforts.

Soya: Imports

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of imported soya was produced in Bolivia in the latest period for which information is available.

Jane Kennedy: According to HMRC official overseas trade statistics, in 2008, no UK imports of soya were recorded as originating from Bolivia. In 2007, 0.02 per cent. of UK imports of soya were recorded as originating from Bolivia. This is based on the volume of trade and includes both soya beans and soya meal. 2008 figures are provisional.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Churches: Expenditure

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how much the Church Commissioners spent on church buildings in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Stuart Bell: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1405W.

WALES

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his latest estimate is of his Department's capital expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Our annual capital budget for the current spending review up to 2010-11 is £767,000 per annum and we have no plans to reprofile this.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what expenditure his Department had allocated to peacekeeping and conflict resolution in each country in Africa before the revision announced in his statement; how much such expenditure was incurred in each country in Africa in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and which programmes in West and Southern Africa will no longer be pursued.

David Miliband: As set out in my written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 17-19WS, due to a large projected increase in the UK's assessed peacekeeping costs, £456 million of the £556 million available in 2009-10 for the Public Service Agreement for Preventing and Resolving Conflict (PSA 30) under the Comprehensive Spending Review has been ear-marked to cover this projected increase. The remaining £100 million has been supplemented by £71 million from departmental budgets to give a total of £171 million from which all discretionary conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping activity will be funded. The Africa Programme has been allocated £43 million of this £171 million and spending under the programme has been prioritised to focus on the most pressing conflict issues within the continent.
	In 2009-10, the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool will focus resources in West Africa on support to Sierra Leone, where the UK will continue to support reform of the security sector and the Sierra Leone armed forces through the International Military Assistance Training Team, and Nigeria where the UK will finance the establishment of a Joint Maritime Security Training Centre to enhance security in the Niger Delta, as well as conflict prevention activities in the Delta region. The UK will complete a phased withdrawal of the British Military Assistance Training Team and associated conflict prevention activities in Ghana. In Southern Africa, the UK will continue to support conflict prevention work in Zimbabwe, which focuses on fostering good governance, as well as maintaining co-operation with South Africa on peacekeeping training through the Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC) and the British Peace Support Training Team (BPST) in South Africa, which will support regional conflict prevention activities.
	Expenditure allocated by the Government to discretionary peacekeeping and conflict prevention in Africa in 2006-07 and 2007-08 broken down by country is detailed in the following table. UK assessed peacekeeping costs for missions in Africa were £149 million in 2006-07 and £172 million in 2007-08.
	
		
			  Africa conflict prevention and discretionary peacekeeping expenditure by country 
			  £ 
			   2006-07  2006-07  2007-08  2007-08 
			   ACPP  Discretionary Peacekeeping  ACPP  Discretionary Peacekeeping 
			  Horn 
			 Djibouti 6,939 — 0 — 
			 Ethiopia 0 — 274,205 — 
			 Somalia 830,524 — 511,406 8,267,346 
			 Sudan 8,796,777 35,501,455 6,507,198 13,848,845 
			 Regional 0 — 270,742 — 
			  Central/East 
			 Burundi 0 — 1,499,799 — 
			 DRC 3,776,481 643,712 4,082,543 1,156,142 
			 Gabon 3,172 — 0 — 
			 Kenya 3,389,860 — 5,372,200 — 
			 Rwanda 116,421 — 735,678 — 
			 Tanzania 0 — 681,900 — 
			 Uganda 870,000 — 1,478,680 — 
			 Great Lakes / Regional 2,536,783 — 5,265,285 — 
			  Southern 
			 Angola 609,453 — 847,649 — 
			 Botswana 213,500 — 45,000 — 
			 Comoros 0 236,704 0  
			 Lesotho 101,000 — 22,000 — 
			 Malawi 225,010 — 355,321 — 
			 Mozambique 205,900 — 362,752 — 
			 Namibia 33,500 — 108,000 — 
			 South Africa 1,946,000 — 1,986,000 — 
			 Swaziland 0 — 8,229 — 
			 Zambia 40,000 — 102,975 — 
			 Zimbabwe 1,987,942 — 3,125,741 — 
			  West 
			 Cameroon 172,110 — 0 — 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 0 — 15,681 — 
			 ECOWAS / Regional 1,246,592 — 400,000 — 
			 Gambia 0 — 264,000 — 
			 Ghana 5,218,057 — 4,416,437 — 
			 Guinea-Bissau 0 — 44,640 — 
			 Guinea 0 — 75,000 — 
			 Regional 0 — 115,966 — 
			 Liberia 2,495,186 400,000 2,014,157 549,248 
			 Sierra Leone 16,095,000 4,407,413 14,032,000 3,311,335 
			 Senegal 169,750 — 273,000 — 
			 Togo 21,168 — 0 — 
			 Nigeria 2,401,318 — 2,451,572 — 
			  Pan-Africa 
			 Africa Union 1,727,293 1,727,293 160,842 160,842 
			 Pan-Africa NGOs 1,725,524 1,725,524 1,731,110 1,731,110 
			 Pan-Africa (MOD) 0 0 445,500 445,500 
			 Total 56,961,260 44,642,101 60,083,208 29,470,368

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 603W, on France: anti-Semitism, what steps his Department has taken to reduce the incidence of anti-Semitism in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Government are committed to tackling and reducing anti-Semitism. We work closely with the International Coalition Combating anti-Semitism, and co-hosted an international Conference on anti-Semitism at Lancaster House on 17 February 2009. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office leads the UK Delegation to the International Task Force on Holocaust Education and Remembrance and works through its posts to monitor and tackle anti-Semitism overseas.

Canada: Oil

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the effects on  (a) First Nations and  (b) levels of carbon dioxide emissions of extracting oil from the tar sands in Alberta, Canada.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 31 March 2009
	We have received reports that First Nation groups are concerned that contamination and water drainage associated with extracting oil from the oil sands could damage the Athabasca/Peace River area. First Nations also dispute, in some cases, the leasing of the land where oil sands are located, arguing the provincial government should consult with them before it grants leases to companies.
	We have received reports that the current production processes used in the oil sands contribute up to three times the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (primarily carbon dioxide) compared with conventional oil production (based on figures contained in the Pembina Institute's Report Oil Sands Fever November 2005).
	The Alberta oil sands currently account for approximately 5 per cent. of Canada's GHG emissions, though this level is estimated to rise to 16 per cent. by 2020 (based on figures contained in the Canadian Government's Turning the Corner Update March 2008).
	In December 2008 Canada and the UK signed a Joint Statement on Carbon Capture and Storage, agreeing to work closely to develop and promote carbon capture technologies as a means to reducing GHG emissions.

Colombia: Military Aid

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which year the Government ceased to provide counter-insurgency advice to the Colombian armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK has not provided specific counter-insurgency assistance to the Columbian armed forces.

Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what his Department's definition of the geographical area of wider Europe is; what the programme cost for peacekeeping and conflict resolution in each country in the wider Europe area was before the revision announced in the Statement; and on what activities such expenditure was expected to be incurred.

David Miliband: The new wider Europe Conflict Prevention Programme (CPP) will cover western Balkans (focusing on Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia) and Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States (focusing on Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova). From this programme, we will also fund the UK contribution to the UN force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
	The overall budget for conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping was set for the comprehensive spending review period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Within this, the allocations to individual regional conflict prevention programmes are set annually after consultation between the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The new wider Europe CPP has been allocated £33 million for 2009-10 financial year.
	Further details on changes to funding of projects and future activities were set out in a letter from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Caroline Flint) to the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee of 25 March 2009, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the projected rise in peacekeeping costs for 2009-10 is; and what percentage increase on costs incurred in 2008-09 this represents.

David Miliband: We estimate that gross assessed costs to international missions paid from the Peacekeeping Budget in 2008-09 will be £332,611,787. However, this will be reduced by a transfer of £29.4 million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which includes the benefits of the advanced purchase of foreign currency. The net payments are therefore estimated to be around £303.2 million.
	In 2009-10 we have budgeted for assessed costs in the region of £456 million after the benefits of advanced purchase of foreign currency. This would be an increase of £152.7 million or 50 per cent. over 2008-09 net costs.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Repor t, column 621W, on departmental bank services, what the monetary value is of the contract between his Department and HiFX Intelligent Financial Services.

Gillian Merron: The monthly cost of the HiFX Intelligent Financial Services contract is £3,000 plus VAT.

Departmental Press

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: We are unable to provide a breakdown prior to 2004 as all information was migrated into a new financial accounting system in March 2004. Providing this information for before this date would incur disproportionate cost. The figures from 2004 are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount (£) 
			 2004-05 2,101,892.15 
			 2005-06 1,747,126.86 
			 2006-07 2,221,786.79 
			 2007-08 3,207,113.97 
			 2008-09 1,973,251.48

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his Department's final expenditure he expects to be delivered in  (a) sterling,  (b) euros and  (c) US dollars in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: In 2008-09, we drew down £1,963 million from HM Treasury to fund our global operations. Some of the draw down was used to buy $693 million and €181 million.

Departmental Rail Travel

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department issues on whether members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class.

Caroline Flint: First class travel is permitted on rail journeys where the one way journey time by the quickest and shortest route is two hours or longer according to published arrival and departure times in the timetable. For journeys of less than two hours all staff should travel standard class (whether or not seats are available). Exemptions to this guidance require prior approval and are only granted in rare and exceptional circumstances (for example certain health conditions or disabilities).

EC Institutions: Manpower

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to increase the number of British nationals working in European Union institutions.

Gillian Merron: The Government are continuing to engage with the EU institutions as they introduce reforms to recruitment competitions, seek to increase their outreach activities, and develop their staffing policy in general. We are also exploring options for improving European expertise through the Fast Stream, to increase the numbers of UK nationals applying for and passing the EU's recruitment competitions.

Falkland Islands: Renewable Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to encourage the development of renewable energy sources in the Falkland Islands.

Gillian Merron: Responsibility for renewable energy targets lies with the Falkland Islands Government. The Falkland Islands Government signed the United Kingdom Overseas Environment Charter in 2001 and the Kyoto Agreement has been extended and applied to the Falkland Islands since 2007.
	On the operational side, the wind farm in Stanley came online in August 2007 and now produces 3,600,000 units per annum (24 per cent. of the annual electricity production for Stanley). Stanley power station aims to double the installed turbine wind capacity to provide 40 per cent. of annual electricity production from renewable energy sources by February 2010.

Falkland Islands: Renewable Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets have been established between his Department and the Falkland Islands government regarding power generation from wind turbines in the Falkland Islands over the next five years.

Gillian Merron: Responsibility for power generation from wind turbines on the Falkland Islands lies with the Falkland Islands government and forms part of the Falkland Islands government's development of renewable energy sources. The Falkland Islands government signed, the United Kingdom Overseas Environment Charter in 2001 and the Kyoto agreement has been extended and applied to the Falkland Islands since 2007.
	On the operational side, the wind farm in Stanley came on line in August 2007 and now produces 3,600,000 units per annum (24 per cent. of the annual electricity production for Stanley). Stanley power station aims to double the installed turbine wind capacity to provide 40 per cent. of annual electricity production from renewable energy sources by February 2010.

Falkland Islands: Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to increase tourism between the United Kingdom and the Falkland Islands.

Gillian Merron: Responsibility for tourism lies with the Falkland Islands Tourist Board who have a strategy to improve tourism. The Falkland Islands is a popular tourist destination. For example, 62,000 visitors arrived in the Falkland Islands on cruise ships during the 2007-08 cruise ship season and this number included many visitors from the United Kingdom.

Latin America: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what his Department's expenditure on the programme for peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Latin America was in each of the last five years; and in which countries and on what activities such expenditure was incurred.

David Miliband: As the financial information requested is detailed and will take time to collate, I will write to the right hon. Member with a response, placing a copy in the Library of the House.

Serbia: EU Accession

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 606W, on Ratko Mladic, what his policy is on Serbian accession to the EU in the event that Ratko Mladic is not arrested; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council conclusions of April 2008 recalled that the pace and conclusion of the negotiations on the EU's Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia would depend (in particular) on Serbia's full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). This condition is still outstanding.
	For the UK, evidence of full co-operation would be a period of committed and sustained activity from the Serbian Government, demonstrating one hundred percent effort and political will. Co-operation with the tribunal covers efforts in a wide range of areas including: tackling support networks; meeting requests for documents; allowing access to archives; ensuring protection of witnesses; as well as locating and transferring the two remaining indictees, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic.

UN World Conference against Racism

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the membership of the UK's delegation to the Durban Review Conference on Racism in Geneva in April 2009 will be; and whether he plans to consult on proposals to be put forward by the delegation prior to the Conference.

Gillian Merron: The UK remains actively engaged in the Durban Review process and we will keep our position under review. No decision has yet been taken on the composition of our delegation.
	Various stakeholders have approached the Government throughout the process, and we have taken their concerns into account.
	The Government have, on several occasions, expressed their view on the Durban Review Conference, the follow-up to the 2001 World Conference Against Racism. We want the conference to forge a collective will to fight against racism in all its forms, in all countries in the world.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer Question 246221, tabled on 8 December 2008 by the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, on the UN reform; and what the reasons are for the time taken to answer.

Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 861W. The delay in replying was due to an administrative error.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Semitism: Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the availability of  (a) anti-Semitic and  (b) pro-Nazi publications in shops in London; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The police and, where necessary, the security services, already monitor and evaluate the words and actions of individuals and organisations preaching racially inflammatory messages and take action where appropriate. Racially inflammatory material that could be perceived as potential incitement to the committing of hate related crime should be reported to the police for evaluation and assessment.

Cannabis: Young People

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of  (a) boys and  (b) girls aged 14-15 years old who have used cannabis in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The information requested on the number of boys and girls aged 14 and 15 who have used cannabis are not routinely produced and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However table 1, following, shows figures on the proportion of boys and girls aged 14 and 15 who have used cannabis in each year between 2001 and 2007, according to the survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of boys and girls who had taken cannabis in the last year, by age 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2007 
			  Boys   
			 14 (percentage) 19 22 20 19 18 14 
			 Base 906 965 1,026 983 944 607 
			
			 15 (percentage) 32 33 33 27 28 22 
			 Base 1,036 1,126 1,161 1,083 1,009 932 
			
			  Girls   
			 14 (percentage) 19 18 21 15 17 13 
			 Base 950 956 986 925 961 715 
			
			 15 (percentage) 30 28 30 26 26 22 
			 Base 958 1,026 1,118 1,029 979 993 
			  Notes: 1. Figures prior to 2001 are not given as they are not comparable. 2. Figures for 2006 have not been reported.  Source: Survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England.

Community Relations: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written answer by Baroness Andrews of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, House of Lords, WA 212-3, on the Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund, if her Department will adopt a policy requiring public bodies that have received funding from it to prevent violent extremism to report annually  (a) to which community groups and individuals they have allocated funding and  (b) on the work they have undertaken and how they plan to monitor its effectiveness.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Home Office provides grant funding to a number of public bodies to assist in their activities to prevent violent extremism. This includes the Youth Justice Board, the National Offender Management Service and the police. These organisations are required to regularly report to the Department on expenditure, and account for their activities such that we can evaluate their effectiveness and value for money. This includes where they in turn, provide funding to community organisations.
	In respect of funding provided via local authorities, this is allocated through the area based grant—a non-ring fenced grant fund which allows local authorities to decide the most effective and efficient routes to invest their resources for the delivery of local priorities.
	Authorities are measured on the outcomes they achieve using this funding through the National Indicator Set.
	All authorities, including those who have received area-based grant funding in support of their work to prevent violent extremism, must therefore report to Government annually against National Indicator 35, an indicator in the National Indicator Set which measures progress in building resilience to violent extremism. Work to prevent violent extremism is included in the Comprehensive Area Assessment process, led by the Audit Commission, which assesses how well local services are working together to improve the quality of life for local people.
	We continue to work closely with local authorities to deliver this agenda and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government wrote to the Speaker of the House of Commons on 17 March, copied to Paul Goodman MP, agreeing to provide information about the groups that local authorities are working with.

Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the decision to close the Council of the Registration of Forensic Practitioners was taken before the conclusion of the Department's consultation on the review of the options for the accreditation of forensic practitioners.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) Board took the decision to wind up the company. By far the largest stakeholders in CRFP are the police who make up over 70 per cent. of the CRFP register, costing police forces about £350,000 per annum. Police forces recently gave notice of their intention to withdraw, leaving CRFP with significant funding shortages that could not be met by the grant in aid, regardless of the outcome of the regulator's review of the options for accreditation.

Crime: Detection Rates

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the crime detection rate in each police force in England was in 2007-08.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is provided in Table 7.03 on page 179 of "Crime in England and Wales 2007/08". A copy of this publication is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0708.pdf

Crimes of Violence: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in the number of violent crimes committed in Tamworth constituency between 2007 and 2008 was.

Alan Campbell: A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics and we now provide figures for violence against the person.
	The available information shows that there was a fall of 19 per cent. in recorded offences of violence against the person in Tamworth between 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many named day questions tabled to her Department during the current session have received a holding reply; how many are awaiting a substantive reply; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken by her Department to answer named day questions; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: All parliamentary questions that do not receive a substantive answer on the day nominated by hon. Members receive a holding reply as a matter of courtesy.
	The table shows current Home Office performance for providing a substantive response to named day questions in the 2008-09 session, to 25 March.
	The Department continually reviews its processes for handling parliamentary questions, including named day questions, in order to improve performance.
	
		
			  Named day( 1)  performance, Session 2008-09, to 25 March 2009 
			  Answered  Total  Cumulative percentage 
			 On named day 94 26 
			 Between one and three sitting days after named day 125 61 
			 Four sitting days and over after named day 87 85 
			 Outstanding 52 100 
			 Total 358 — 
			 (1) Named day questions include oral questions that are unstarred or not reached on the day.

Eddie Gilfoyle

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will refer the case of Mr. Eddie Gilfoyle to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Jacqui Smith: There were two separate supervised investigations conducted by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) (October 1993 to September 1994 and February 1996 to April 1997) into complaints made by Mr. Gilfoyle's family about the Merseyside police investigation.
	The IPCC reviewed the PCA investigation files and concluded that there was no new evidence of police misconduct to justify a referral to the IPCC.

Entry Clearances

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons working for her Department were discovered not to have the requisite permission to be in the UK in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: No employees of the Home Office were found to be working without permission to be in the UK in these three years.

Forensic Science

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable she has set for publication of the Forensics White Paper.

Alan Campbell: We are currently considering the timetable for the Forensics White Paper, and are taking particular account of our commitment to respond to the recent European Court judgment relating to the retention of DNA profiles.

Hezbollah

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of links between the political and military wings of Hezbollah.

Vernon Coaker: In July 2008, the military wing of Hezbollah, including the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it (including the Hezbollah External Security Organisation) was added to schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (the proscribed list). Prior to that, only the External Security Organisation of Hezbollah was proscribed. The amendment to schedule 2 followed a thorough review of Hezbollah and the extent to which various parts of the organisation are concerned in terrorism. The review concluded that a distinction could be drawn between those parts of Hezbollah which are legitimately involved in Lebanese politics and those which are directly concerned in terrorism, and the new entry in schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000 reflects that distinction.

Immigration Controls

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an applicant from the UK applying for Tier 1 migrant status is required to demonstrate evidence of funds of £800 or more in each of the three months preceding the date of the application.

Phil Woolas: Overseas nationals wishing to apply under the Tier one (General), Tier one (Post-study Work) and the Tier one (Entrepreneur) categories from within the UK are required to demonstrate evidence of funds of £800 or more in each of the three months preceding the date of the application.
	Overseas nationals wishing to apply under the Tier one (Investor) category are not required to demonstrate maintenance funds, due to the significant level of investment they are required to make in the UK.

Metropolitan Police: Costs

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average cost to the Metropolitan Police of an unsuccessful attempt to arrest an individual subsequently found to be in custody in the last 12 months.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 March 2009
	The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent progress has been made on implementation of the policing pledge.

Vernon Coaker: All 43 police forces across England and Wales have now implemented the policing pledge. As part of the 'Justice Seen, Justice Done' programme, a nationwide drive has been launched to inform the public of the levels of service that the police have committed to providing in the pledge.
	The Policing Green Paper explained the new relationship between the Government, police and public. The Home Office has now adopted a more strategic role allowing for grassroots accountability and an enhanced role for Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in providing public assurance about the quality and standard of policing in all forces. The Home Office will not be directly assessing the performance of forces against the pledge; however HMIC will validate the delivery of the pledge through their inspection process. Police authorities will also wish to be satisfied that the pledge is being delivered for local people. Additionally, if the public do not feel the standards within the pledge are being met they can raise it locally with the police themselves or through their police authority.

Police: Bureaucracy

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to reduce police bureaucracy.

Vernon Coaker: It is vital that the police are able to deliver for the public in the most efficient way. This is why in the Policing Green Paper, published last year, the Home Office attached so much priority to cutting red tape and investing in technology. The Government's approach to bureaucracy is to reform processes to free up officer time, while also returning discretion to police officers and encouraging them to use their professional judgment.
	Following a recommendation by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Home Office has supported a project to reduce the length of the crime recording form for use in the majority of incidents. A shortened crime recording process was piloted in four police forces areas in 2008, which allowed officers to exercise greater professional judgment in completing forms. PACE Code A has now been changed to remove the requirement of police officers to complete the stop and account form, while retaining the recording of the ethnicity of those stopped for monitoring reasons. The Government are also investing £80 million to deliver 30,000 new mobile data devices in to the hands of front-line officers by March 2010 to help them work more efficiently and to carry out many of these processes out on the street and not in the station.
	The Home Office is also committed to reducing by up to 50 per cent. the amount of data it collects from police forces and has now removed the requirement for police officers to complete time-sheets for the purposes of activity based costing as well as removing or reducing the data it collected from police forces across a total of 36 data streams. Furthermore, the Home Office has taken steps to streamline its police performance management process, including the move to a single top-down target on public confidence.
	Finally, the Home Office has appointed Jan Berry as the independent Reducing Bureaucracy Advocate to challenge Government and the police service to make further reductions to bureaucracy. Jan Berry has established a practitioner group comprising police officers and staff which is already scrutinising a number of police processes to identify where further reductions in bureaucracy can be achieved.

Police: Firearms

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on firearms training for  (a) the police and  (b) the UK Border Agency staff in 2008.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office spent no money on firearms training for the police or UK Border Agency staff in 2008. Police firearms training costs are met from within police force budgets. UKBA staff do not carry firearms.

Public Order Offences

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the merits of  (a) reducing the scope of the offence in section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in respect of insulting words or behaviour and  (b) issuing guidance to (i) police forces and (ii) the Crown Prosecution Service on the handling of complaints relating to section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Vernon Coaker: Following my appearance before the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into policing and protest last December, I wrote to the ACPO lead on public order to seek her advice on the need for additional guidance to address the concerns that were raised by members of that Committee about section five of the Public Order Act.
	There are potentially far reaching implications to any amendments to section five. In view of the Joint Committee on Human Right's recent recommendation to amend section five, we are considering the offence and will be responding to all the Committee's recommendations in due course.

Terrorism

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much  (a) has been spent and  (b) is planned to be spent on the installation of radiological detection systems at ports of entry to the UK, as referred to on page 15 of the United Kingdom's Strategy for Countering International Terrorism, Cm 7547; how many such systems have been installed; and how many remain to be installed.

Vernon Coaker: Programme Cyclamen provides both a fixed and mobile capability to detect, deter and intercept smuggled radiological material. At the end of March 2009, the cost of installing the detection equipment at ports across the UK was £76.7 million. The roll out of equipment is continuing and the planned cost of installing equipment is a further £85.6 million over the next two financial years. Due to the sensitivities around live operations, details about the numbers or locations of fixed detection equipment and mobile radiation detection units cannot be disclosed.

Terrorism

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what scientific research programmes are being carried out into chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorist threats, as referred to at paragraph 0.61, page 15 of the United Kingdom's Strategy for Countering International Terrorism, Cm 7547; and at which institution each programme is being carried out.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office leads a cross-Government science programme to address priority research requirements related to the potential use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials by terrorists. Elements of this work are classified. However, unclassified requirements in the areas of analytical techniques, protection, detection, medical countermeasures, hazard management, assessment and studies, and models have been published on the Home Office website. The current programme of work is being undertaken by around 45 research organisations in academia, industry and Government. For security reasons, we do not generally disclose the precise nature of the research nor the research body responsible.

Theft: Motor Vehicles

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the car theft indexes for  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office produced an annual edition of the car theft index from 2004 to 2006. It was last published in December 2006 was not produced in 2007 or 2008 and there are no plans to retrospectively publish car theft index reports for those years.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the average insurance cost to employers of taking on an apprentice.

Si�n Simon: I am not aware that there are any extra insurance costs to an employer of employing an apprentice above the normal costs of an employee. All employers must have employer liability insurance, the cost of which will depend on the nature of the industry.
	Apprentices are employees and I would not expect their training status to lead to additional costs for employers.

Apprentices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprentices completing their training were still in a job relevant to the apprenticeship undertaken  (a) 12 months and  (b) 24 months after completion of the course in the latest period for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: An apprenticeship is a work-based programme and apprentices must have a job or a work placement as a condition of completing their apprenticeship framework. Many will already be in permanent employment prior to the end of their apprenticeship.
	Information on the immediate destinations of apprenticeships upon completion of their apprenticeship is not readily available. This type of information will in future be collected using the Framework for Excellence learner destination survey with the first results for all FE Colleges and Work based learning providers available in spring 2009. The survey will be conducted nine months after the end of the academic year and so will not relate exactly to 12 or 24 months after the completion of the apprenticeship. Also, the survey will not tell us whether these people are in a job relevant to their apprenticeship.
	A recent research report has carried out a cost-benefit analysis of apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications. This report, including the main findings, can be found here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR834.pdf
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007-08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004-05.

Apprentices: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people resident in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex were on (i) apprenticeships and (ii) advanced apprenticeships in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The table shows the number of apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship starts in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency and East Sussex local authority from 2003/04 to 2007/08, the latest year for which fully-audited figures are available.
	
		
			  Number of apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship starts in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency and East Sussex local authority, 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			   Area  Apprenticeship starts  Advanced apprenticeship starts  Total starts 
			 2003/04 Eastbourne 240 80 330 
			  East Sussex 1,050 420 1,470 
			  
			 2004/05 Eastbourne 210 110 310 
			  East Sussex 1,030 500 1,530 
			  
			 2005/06 Eastbourne 230 100 330 
			  East Sussex 930 460 1,380 
			  
			 2006/07 Eastbourne 250 120 380 
			  East Sussex 970 460 1,430 
			  
			 2007/08 Eastbourne 270 180 450 
			  East Sussex 1,180 630 1,820 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest ten, and therefore may not sum to the total. 2. Figures for advanced apprenticeships include higher level apprenticeships (HLA) to be consistent with information published in statistical first releases. HLA numbers are currently too small to include as a separate category.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), whether  (a) the effect on regeneration programmes and  (b) co-funding from other organisations will be included in the criteria for allocating outstanding funds to college capital funding projects.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have already begun discussing options for prioritisation with the FE sector already. Once the consultation is complete, the LSC will advise on options.
	We would expect the consultation and subsequent advice to give due consideration to all potential prioritisation criteria, including whether the proposal impacts upon regeneration programmes, or has attracted co-funding from other organisations.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), what capital funding he plans to make available to the  (a) 79 colleges with approval in principle and  (b) 65 colleges awaiting approval in principle for their building projects; and when such funds will be made available.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) new acting chief executive has appointed an external team to review the current financial data held by the LSC and a team of property specialists to assist the LSC to ensure information held about individual projects is accurate and comprehensive and a sound basis for taking future decisions.
	The LSC are working with the sector for prioritisation criteria for allocating any available funding. Announcements will be made once that work is completed.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Si�n Simon: The Department does not offer staff additional leave entitlement or bonus payments over Christmas.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Si�n Simon: The Department's office cleaning services are provided through the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) which manage the buildings that DIUS occupies.
	Both BERR and DCSF use JohnsonDiversey cleaning products. JohnsonDiversey are a member of the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI) whose position on animal testing is
	the total elimination of animal testing, with progress towards that goal dependent on advances in scientific knowledge. Where animal testing remains necessary in order to establish safety of ingredients, it is kept to an absolute minimum to meet legal requirements.
	BERR and DCSF will work with their cleaning suppliers to use products which avoid the use of animal testing wherever possible.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is as follows:
	 (i) Costs for the Department's 2008 Annual Report are listed.
	Exact costs (Incl. VAT)
	Bell Design (creative concept; initial copywriting; typesetting and production incl. web-optimised pdf; photo library research and fees; studio materials and proofs; project management) 85,022.98 incl. VAT
	COI (further copywriting; copy editing; handling amends and proof-reading) 10,186.08 incl. VAT
	Stationery Office (print production and delivery of copies, incl. TSO management fee of 1,500) 9,686 incl. VAT
	Total: 104,895.06
	 (ii) DIUS published its 2008 Autumn Performance Report on line. It was produced in-house in the normal course of business without extra production costs.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and who provided such training.

Si�n Simon: The Department provided one media training session in 2008 for a Minister at a cost of 1,276. No other media training for Ministers was arranged in the last three years. The session was run by a freelance trainer.

Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 504-6W, on the economic situation, 
	(1)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its local business seminar in Hoylake, Wirral on 8 January 2009;
	(2)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to  (a) the DIUS group meeting and  (b) the DIUS Family delivery partners drinks reception on 19 November 2008;
	(3)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its seminar on small and medium enterprises on 26 November 2008;
	(4)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its away day to discuss the DIUS response to the downturn on 27 January 2009;
	(5)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its seminar on Staying Ahead, investing in science during the down-turn on 19 February 2009.

Si�n Simon: Further to my answer of 25 March regarding the summits, conferences and seminars DIUS has hosted since January 2008, at which a primary subject for discussion was the impact of the economic situation on matters within DIUS' responsibility; the cost of these events, by category, is listed as follows.
	
		
			  PQ No.  Event  Cost ()  Cost category 
			 268099 Local businesses seminar Hoylake, Wirral - 8 January 2009 312.80 - incl. VAT Driver's cost for the day - not only for attending this seminar 
			 268100 DIUS Group meeting and DIUS Family (delivery partners) drinks reception -19 November 2008 3,899.35 - excl VAT Venue, catering and delegate management 
			 268101 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Panel - 26 November 2008 223.00 (VAT not applied) Cost of travel of SMEs attending the panel 
			 268102 DIUS Family (delivery partners) Awayday to discuss the DIUS response to the downturn. 38,557.29 - incl. VAT Venue, catering and delegate management before during and after, including setting up an online registration, evaluation and discussion space 
			  + 4,000.00 - incl. VAT Facilitators, including briefing, facilitating and reporting 
			 268103 'Staying Ahead - investing in science during the downturn' -19 February 2009 3,400.00 - excl. VAT Venue, catering and delegate management

Further Education: Borrowing

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills for what reasons the restrictions on borrowing placed upon further education colleges and other providers of further and higher education vary; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Borrowing restrictions in respect of Further Education (FE) colleges are set by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) within its financial memorandum with colleges. The level of consent provided is up to 5 per cent. of a college's total annual income. Colleges are able to access higher levels of borrowing with the LSC's consent.
	The borrowing restrictions in respect of higher education institutions (HEIs) are set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) within its financial memorandum with HEIs. Under the terms of the memorandum, HEFCE permission is required where the annual costs of servicing the borrowing exceed 4 per cent. of the HEI's total annual income.
	The difference in approach between FE colleges and HEIs reflects a number of factors, including the origin and diversity of the two sectors and the development of the relevant funding body's approach to financial management over time.
	Borrowing restrictions for other providers of FE (which include companies, charities, local authorities etc) are determined by the legislation or governance requirements pertaining to that particular sector or institution.

Further Education: Capital Investment

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's contribution in the Westminster Hall debate on the Building Colleges for the Future programme on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 121WH, to which hon. Members the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has written inviting them to meet him to discuss the matters in detail.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 31 March 2009
	On the 16 January, I wrote to 105 Membersa list of which is as follows. The letter was targeted at those Members who had colleges in their constituencies that we were aware were affected by the position of the further education capital programme. The letter included an offer to meet with any Members who had concerns regarding further education colleges in their own constituencies.
	Prior to the 4 March and the Learning and Skills Council national Council meeting, I had been in correspondence with 58 Members regarding the position of the further education capital programme. On the 6 March, following the national Council meeting, I wrote to each of the Members, updating them on the latest capital funding position, and again offering to meet with Members who had concerns regarding their own colleges.
	A list of those 58 Members is also as follows.
	 Annex 1: List of MPs who received a letter from Sin Simon MP regarding the further education capital position
	 16 January distribution list:
	 MPs
	David Heyes
	Eric Illsley
	John Mann
	Frank Field
	Gordon Marsden
	Dr. Brian Iddon
	Mark Simmonds
	Marsha Singh
	Ann Keen
	David Lepper
	Eric Martlew
	Martin Harwood
	Andrew Tyrie
	Christine Russell
	Roberta Blackman-Woods
	Bob Russell
	Richard Ottaway
	Alan Milburn
	Michael Mates
	Stephen O'Brien
	Ben Bradshaw
	Austin Mitchell
	Sylvia Heal
	Iain Wright
	David Willetts
	Andrew Stunell
	John Howell
	Mark Prisk
	Peter Atkinson
	Jonathan Djanogly
	Andrew Turner
	Philip Hollobone
	Ben Wallace
	Jane Kennedy
	Ian McCartney
	Alan Meale
	Dr. Julian Lewis
	Norman Lamb
	Henry Bellingham
	Sally Keeble
	Charles Clarke
	Alan Simpson
	Dr. Evan Harris
	Stewart Jackson
	Mike Hancock
	Mark Hendrick
	Nigel Evans
	Susan Kramer
	Philip Hammond
	Lorely Burt
	Stephen Ladyman
	Dr. John Pugh
	Shaun Woodward
	Ms Dari Taylor
	Mark Fisher
	Lynda Waltho
	John Maples
	Andrew Mitchell
	Jeremy Browne
	Mark Pritchard
	Sir John Stanley
	Adrian Sanders
	Dr. Vincent Cable
	David Clelland
	Mary Creagh
	Denis Murphy
	John Spellar
	David Heathcoat-Amory
	Rosie Cooper
	Tim Farron
	Dr. Richard Taylor
	Ian Cawsey
	Nadine Dorries
	Ian Gibson
	Bob Spink
	Ian Stewart
	Graham Stringer
	Desmond Turner
	Rob Wilson
	Derek Wyatt
	Meg Munn
	Dr. Hywel Francis
	Judy Mallaber
	Damian Green
	Tim Loughton
	Doug Henderson
	Paul Holmes
	Michael Foster
	Khalid Mahmood
	Angela C. Smith
	Janet Dean
	Joan Walley
	Tim Boswell
	Alistair Burt
	Laurence Robertson
	John Penrose
	Annette Brooke
	Dawn Butler
	Douglas Carswell
	John Heppell
	Sharon Hodgson
	Paul Holmes
	Andy Slaughter
	Edward Timpson
	Graham Allen
	Total: 105
	 6 March distribution list:
	 MPs
	Tony Lloyd MP
	Stephen Hepburn MP
	Stephen Haughton MP
	Shona McIsaac MP
	Shahid Malik MP
	Right hon. Jack Straw MP
	Right hon. George Howarth MP
	Right hon. Alan Johnson MP
	Robert Key MP
	Phil Hope MP
	Paul Rowan MP
	Mike Hall MP
	Michael Foster MP
	Michael Clapham MP
	Mary Creagh MP
	Mark Hoban MP
	Jonathan Djanogly MP
	John Mann MP
	John Hayes MP
	Jim Dobbin MP
	Jeff Ennis MP
	Janet Anderson MP
	Ian Cawsey MP
	Ian Austin MP
	Gordon Marsden MP
	Frank Dobson MP
	Eric Illsley MP
	Dr. Richard Taylor MP
	Dr. Howard Stoate MP
	Don Foster MP
	Derek Twigg MP
	Denis MacShane MP
	Dawn Butler MP
	David Wright MP
	David Kidney MP
	Dave Watts MP
	Christine Russell MP
	Celia Barlow MP
	Ben Chapman MP
	Ben Bradshaw MP
	Barry Sheerman MP
	Austin Mitchell MP
	Anne Snelgrove MP
	Alison Seabeck MP
	Adrian Sanders MP
	Right hon. John Hutton MP
	Nick Harvey MP
	Mark Field MP
	Malcolm Moss MP
	Eric Martlew MP
	Eleanor Laing MP
	David Borrow MP
	Dari Taylor MP
	Austin Mitchell MP
	Dr. Tony Wright MP
	Right hon. Andrew Smith MP
	Joan Humble MP
	Alan Keen MP
	Total: 58

Further Education: Finance

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was allocated for the redevelopment of further education colleges in each constituency between 1999 and 2009.

Si�n Simon: Since 1997 more than 2 billion has been invested in modernising FE facilities and we will spend another 2.3 billion in the current spending review period.
	Capital funding for further education colleges is administrated by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Geoff Russell will write to the hon. Member with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Further Education: Overseas Students

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals who completed further education courses in England in the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The table shows the number of learners whose country of domicile is any one of the countries who are currently not members of the European Union (EU), achieving at least one qualification aim.
	
		
			  Number of non-EU learners achieving at least one qualification aim, 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			  Academic year  Number of learners achieving 
			 2003/04 38,000 
			 2004/05 32,000 
			 2005/06 28,000 
			 2006/07 25,000 
			 2007/08 25,000 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. Numbers include FE and Ufl data only. 3. Data include both LSC funded and non-funded learners. 4. Non-EU learners are learners whose country of domicile is any of the countries who are not currently members of the European Union (EU). 5. This information is based on country of domicileinstitutions are advised that the country of domicile should be treated as a self-assessment field and reflect the country where the learner was ordinarily resident for the three years preceding the start of their programme.  Source: Individualised Learner Record (ILR)

Higher Education: Disadvantaged

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans his Department has to encourage higher education institutions to admit students from non-traditional backgrounds; and what consideration he has given to the merits of changing the funding system so that universities do not perceive a financial risk by recruiting such students.

David Lammy: This Government are fully committed to ensuring every young person has a fair chance of attending university. And we are making progress with the proportion of young entrants from lower socio economic groups going to university increasing steadily, reaching almost 30 per cent. in 2007.
	But we should and can do more. As part of the New Opportunities White Paper, we announced further measures to ensure every young person from a low income background, who could benefit from going to university, is given the opportunity to do so. This includes a group of 11 research intensive universities working together to look at ways to reach out to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
	It is in no-one's interest for universities to recruit students who cannot benefit from higher education. The widening participation allocation is a contribution towards the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds. The amount set aside for the allocation, and the funding method by which each institution's allocation is calculated, are matters for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Higher Education: Finance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what contribution the Government has made to the Access to Learning Fund in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2009,  Official Report , column 1306W, to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr. Williams).

Higher Education: Finance

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of higher education institutions that will be required to repay funds to the Higher Education and Funding Council for England resulting from overpayments based on the mis-reporting of student completion rates.

David Lammy: Almost all of HEFCE's recurrent funding for institutions are allocated by formula and informed by data that higher and further education institutions provide on their student numbers and measures of research activity. HEFCE's rules about only counting the activity that students complete in its funding allocations are clear. Where it is found, either through reconciliations with other data or any data audit, that erroneous data has resulted in institutions receiving incorrect funding allocations, then HEFCE adjust their funding accordingly (subject, where appropriate, to an appeals process).
	As with any other public sector body, HEFCE's audits are a routine way of ensuring accountability for, and the proper use of, public funds. HEFCE carries out student data audits of the universities and colleges it funds over a five-year cycle. In 2008 it audited 26 HEIs relating to their 2007-08 HESES data. Where it finds that institutions have over-claimed funding, HEFCE has a duty to recover it. So far, these data audits have resulted in confirmed funding adjustments to funding for four institutions, as a result of incorrect reporting of non-completions.

Higher Education: Finance

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of the funding process for universities which are involved in initiatives to widen participation in higher education.

David Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council for England assists universities with the additional costs of recruiting students from non-traditional backgrounds. The funding is calculated in such a way as to reflect the students from non-traditional backgrounds that an institution has already recruited. It is paid to institutions as part of their teaching and learning budget, and it is not ring-fenced for any specific activities.
	An assessment of its effectiveness is a matter for the Funding Council, however, a 2006 assessment made by the Funding Council found that evidence for the impact of the allocation on institutional behaviour was strong, and that there was persuasive evidence of the effectiveness of specific institutional interventions.
	The first Widening Participation Strategic Assessments (WPSAs) will be submitted by higher education institutions to the Funding Council by the end of June. The assessment will contain detailed information about the university's progress in widening participation through information about: the full range of the institution's widening participation activity at an appropriately aggregated level; the detailed targets and milestones set by the university; and the level of resource committed to widening participation, including, but not limited to, the Funding Council's widening participation allocation and the spending on outreach and bursaries covered by access agreements. Universities also receive funding through the Aimhigher initiative.
	Evaluation of predecessor programmes shows that they have a significant impact on the aspirations of young people towards university, and their pre-entry attainment levels.

London Metropolitan University

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people from Islington North constituency are enrolled on a course at London Metropolitan University.

David Lammy: Latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that 675 people from Islington North parliamentary constituency enrolled on a course at London Metropolitan University in the 2007-08 academic year(1). This figure covers enrolments to all levels and modes of study.
	Figures for the 2008-09 academic year will be available in January 2010.
	(1) Enrolments refer to the total number of students at the university, rather than that year's entrants.

London Metropolitan University

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the financial situation at London Metropolitan University.

David Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is responsible for monitoring the financial health of those higher education institutions it funds through an accountability framework. This framework includes an annual process which assesses the financial health and risks facing all institutions. At the same time, HEFCE undertakes data audit work which at London Metropolitan University has found that 36.5 million of funding was incorrectly claimed over a three year period. All of this money is being repaid by the university over an agreed five year repayment period.

Nuclear Engineering: Higher Education

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1902W, on engineering: higher education, how many  (a) masters level students and  (b) doctoral students received funding for nuclear engineering courses in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: Data at the level of detail requested by this question are not collected centrally. The following table sets out the overall numbers of chemical, process and energy engineering students at English higher education institutions over the last five years which would include nuclear engineering students.
	
		
			  Academic year  Masters  Doctorates 
			 2003/04 935 605 
			 2004/05 865 645 
			 2005/06 870 630 
			 2006/07 920 665 
			 2007/08 725 865 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. 2. Covers enrolments of all domiciles to both full-time and part-time courses. 3. Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of subject over the time series.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Science: Research

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of research funding for science subjects in  (a) Russell Group universities and  (b) other universities in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Government funding for research in science and other subjects is now at record levels, with DIUS funding set to reach almost 6 billion by 2010/11. Research funding for universities is allocated on the basis of excellencethrough the RAE in the case of the HEFCE Quality Related (QR) block grant, and through peer review of projects in the case of Research Councils. In relation to the recent HEFCE block grant allocation, HEFCE have safeguarded the proportion of funding going to Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.

Students: Loans

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was refunded to account holders by the Student Loans Company in respect of overpayments made at the end of the loan period in each financial year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: As there is a time lag between student loan deductions being made and the Student Loan Company (SLC) receiving information from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), it is possible for people to overpay before the SLC becomes aware that their repayments should stop. Because of this, borrowers are advised to monitor their own repayments so they know when they are likely to come to the end of repaying their loan. If they do not, they could overpay.
	The information requested is set out in the following table; the figures relate to income contingent student loans.
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 1998-99 11 
			 1999-2000 5,312 
			 2000-01 17,976 
			 2001-02 130,141 
			 2002-03 553,580 
			 2003-04 2,047,526 
			 2004-05 5,321,628 
			 2005-06 8,266,570 
			 2006-07 9,669,298 
			 2007-08 15,290,287 
			 Total refunded 41,302,329 
		
	
	The SLC is exploring a number of measures to help customers avoid overpayment, including giving them the option to make final repayments outside the tax system, via direct debit, to ensure they do not overpay. The SLC has also introduced new guidance and tools, including an on-line calculator, to help customers work out their loan balance, and therefore when they are likely to repay their loan in full.

Training: Defence

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will meet the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss potential European funding for the Defence Training Review project.

Si�n Simon: The Defence Training Review project is being led by the Ministry of Defence who have published the anticipated timeline till 2015 on their website:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWe Do/TrainingandExercises/DTR
	Questions surrounding the funding of this project should be directed to my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. We will of course consider any request from him for a meeting to discuss any role for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills with respect to the Defence Training Review project.

Vocational Training

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 10-12W, on vocational training, how many businesses in  (a) each region and  (b) each London borough have signed the Skills Pledge.

Si�n Simon: The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by employers to support their employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs).
	Since the launch of the Skills Pledge in June 2007 we have made excellent progress. The table, taken from the latest available figures, January 2009, show the number of organisations that have made the Skills Pledge in each region. Please note that these figures include both public and private organisations.
	Skills Pledge information is not identifiable by London borough.
	
		
			  Number of organisations to have made the Skills Pledge in each region 
			  Geographical region  Number of pledges 
			 East Midlands 1,281 
			 East of England 829 
			 London 2,594 
			 North East 157 
			 North West 1,849 
			 South East 1,735 
			 South West 868 
			 West Midlands 2,206 
			 Yorks and Humberside 1,272 
			 Total 12,791

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many mothers have more than  (a) one,  (b) five,  (c) 10 and  (d) 15 children in care.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: This information is not collected centrally by the Department.

Children: Autism

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the provision of training for the staff of children's services in respect of autism.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The then Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Health published Good Practice Guidance on autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) in 2002 for providers of services to children with autism, including local authorities. The guidance advised that all those who plan or provide for children should have some knowledge and understanding of autism and gave pointers to good practice on the provision of in-service training:
	www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/sen/asds/asdgoodpractice/
	The Department, with the National Strategies, is publishing in-service training DVDs and booklets on Supporting children on the autism spectrum for schools and early years settings and distributing these via local authorities:
	www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies
	Links to other sources of support are included, such as training courses in autism and the West Midlands autism spectrum disorders: training policy and framework which is for use in planning and training for those in education, social care, health and the independent and voluntary sectors.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which companies other than Capgemini bid for his Department's ContactPoint contract.

Beverley Hughes: The Department used an existing EU compliant Framework Agreement between the Department and Capgemini UK plc for the design, and subsequently, the build, test, hosting and support of ContactPoint.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether there are circumstances in which a person's ContactPoint data might be retained on ContactPoint for longer than six years after their 18th birthday.

Beverley Hughes: Local authorities, or the Secretary of State, may decide that a record can be retained in the archive for longer than six years if it is necessary to support an ongoing investigation under section 47 of the Children Act 1989, which relates to a child who may be suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm, or a Local Safeguarding Children's Board serious case review or investigation into a child's death.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many full day care settings closed in each quarter of the last year.

Beverley Hughes: The latest available information on full day care settings for a full quarter was published in Ofsted's June 2008 report Registered Childcare Providers and Places. The information requested is reproduced in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and percentage of full day care settings that have opened and closed( 1) Position as at each quarter, England 
			   Full Day Care 
			   Number  Rate per 100 settings( 2) 
			  January to March 2008   
			 Opened 550 3.9 
			 Closed 420 2.9 
			
			  April to June 2008   
			 Opened 520 3.6 
			 Closed 370 2.6 
			 (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100.  (2) Rates are calculated by multiplying the number of openings/closures in each quarter by 100, and dividing this value by the stock at the beginning of each quarter.   Source:  Ofsted.

Children: Disabled

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisations have been allocated funding through the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has offered grants to, or is contracted with, the following organisations through the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme:
	All English local authorities
	147 parent groups throughout England
	Together for Disabled Children
	Council for Disabled Children
	The National Strategies
	Department of Health Business Services Authority
	Shared Care Network
	Kids

Children: Maintenance

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was paid by absent fathers for maintenance via the child support system in each of the last three years; and what the total unpaid liability for maintenance was in each of those years.

Kitty Ussher: I have been asked to reply.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	Your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families about child maintenance was transferred to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions as the child maintenance system falls within his remit. Responsibility for the delivery of the statutory child maintenance schemes is the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner was promised.
	You asked how much was paid by absent fathers for maintenance via the child support system; and what the total unpaid liability for maintenance was in each of those years.
	We contacted your office and clarified that you were asking for information from each of the last five years. It should be noted that child maintenance is collected from non-resident parents, around 95 per cent. of whom are male, and 5 per cent. female. Information on the amount of maintenance collected from either fathers or mothers is not available.
	Information relating to the amount of child maintenance collected and arranged is routinely published in Table 19.5 of the Child Support Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This is available in the House of Commons library, or via the internet at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/publications/statistics.html.
	This information for the last five calendar years, as well as an estimate of the total annual child maintenance liability, is set out in the attached table.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Child Support AgencyTotal maintenance collected and arranged 2004-08 
			   Total collected and arranged( 1)   (  million )  Estimated annual maintenance liability( 2)   (  million )  Total maintenance as percentage of regular liability( 3) 
			 2004 790 1,206 66 
			 2005 829 1,250 66 
			 2006 880 1,297 68 
			 2007 975 1,314 74 
			 2008 1,112 1,353 82 
			 (1) The amount of arrears of maintenance collected within each year may include arrears accrued in previous years.(  2) The estimate is of child maintenance becoming due in that year.  (3) Total maintenance as a percentage of regular liability is calculated by dividing the child maintenance liability over the year by the total child maintenance collected and arranged by the agency over the same period.   Notes:  1. Information relating to the amount of child maintenance collected and arranged is routinely published in Table 19.5 of the Child Support Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This is available online at: http://www.childmaintenance.org/publications/statistics. html.  2. Figures shown relate to each of the last five calendar years.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many cases investigated by independent reviewing officers have been referred to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the past five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) have had three formal referrals from independent reviewing officers (IROs) in the last five years.
	Informally, CAFCASS have received 65 requests for support from IROs in the year 2007-08, and some 52 requests in 2008-09. CAFCASS lawyers have provided guidance and assistance in response to these requests.

Children: Social Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether the cross-government national safeguarding delivery unit will have powers to intervene in children's services departments in local authorities;
	(2)  when he plans to announce which experts from  (a) central Government,  (b) local agencies and  (c) the voluntary sector will staff the cross-government national safeguarding delivery unit.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 27 March 2009,  Official Report, column 798W.

Children's Centres: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on funding Sure Start centres in Tamworth constituency since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information on Sure Start spending is collected at a local authority level. Staffordshire local authority is responsible for the Sure Start centres in the Tamworth constituency.
	The first Sure Start Local programmes were set up in 1999-2000. Data for revenue spend for years prior to 2003-04 are not readily available at local authority level.
	The delivery of first phase Children's Centres began in 2003-04.
	The combined Sure Start Local programme and children's centres revenue spend is shown in table A.
	
		
			  Table A 
			   SSLP and children's centres revenue spend 2003-04 to 2007-08 for Staffordshire local authority 
			 2003-04 3,420,406 
			 2004-05 3,459,755 
			 2005-06 4,213,454 
			 2006-07 5,990,872 
			 2007-08 6,975,081 
			 Total 24,059,568 
		
	
	The combined Sure Start Local programme and children's centres capital spend from 1999-2000 to 2007-08 is 10,449,472.
	The Sure Start Local programmes received a single allocation for capital. This has meant that it is not possible to accurately track the year by year spend for SSLP capital. Staffordshire's capital spend for Sure Start Local programmes from programme inception to 2005-06 was 5,173,204.
	Staffordshire's children's centres capital spend from 2003-04 to 2007-08 is given in table B.
	
		
			  Table B 
			   Staffordshire children's centres capital spend 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 2,155,362 
			 2006-07 480,138 
			 2007-08 2,640,768 
			 Total 5,276,268

Delivery of National Curriculum Tests in 2008 Inquiry

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when the inquiry into the findings of the Sutherland Report undertaken by the board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will be completed.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Lord Sutherland published his report on the 2008 National Curriculum Test delivery problems on 16 December last year. On the same day, the QCA Board suspended on full pay Dr. Ken Boston, its chief executive, and David Gee, the managing director of the National Assessment Agency, while the board fully considered their position.
	On 2 February, the Secretary of State published in the House the Department's response to Lord Sutherland's report, together with the report of 16 January from the Chairman of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), setting out QCA's progress in implementing Lord Sutherland's recommendations.
	On 1 April, following an internal inquiry, the QCA Board announced that it had accepted both Dr. Ken Boston's and David Gee's resignations, with the agreement that they are effective immediately. The QCA's statements can be found in full on the QCA website at:
	www.qca.org.uk

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not own or operate any buildings under a private finance initiative (PFI).

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families office cleaning service is provided by an external supplier, Mitie Cleaning who use JohnsonDiversey cleaning products. JohnsonDiversey are a member of the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI) whose position on animal testing is
	the total elimination of animal testing, with progress towards that goal dependent on advances in scientific knowledge. Where animal testing remains necessary in order to establish safety of ingredients, it is kept to an absolute minimum to meet legal requirements.
	The Department will work with our cleaning supplier to use wherever possible products that avoids the use of animal testing.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: For the financial year 2008-09 the Department paid 48,007 business rates on vacant properties.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel has been used by his Department since its inception.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families was created on 28 June 2007 and from its creation the total amount of electricity, gas and other fuel used in the Department's buildings is as follows:
	
		
			  Fuel  Kwh 
			 Electricity 24,691,220 
			 Gas 9,235,289 
			 Steam 4,444,530 
		
	
	The Department shares its buildings with other bodies and their usage is included in the above totals.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A breakdown of reported lost or stolen property from the Department for Children, Schools and Families in the last 12 month period March 2008 to February 2009 is detailed as follows.
	
		
			  Item  Lost  Stolen  Total  Total estimated cost of replacement () 
			 Laptops 2 4 6 5,400.00 
			 Blackberry/mobile 12 5 17 2,210.00 
			 Memory stick 2  2 29.92 
			 Projector  1 1 500.00 
			 Spider phone  1 1 400.00 
			 Staff Passes 120 17 137 519.63 
			 Total 136 28 164 9,059.55

Departmental Lost Property

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost of replacing lost or stolen property from his Department was in the last 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The total expenditure for replacing lost or stolen property from the Department for Children, Schools and Families in the last 12 month period March 2008 to February 2009 is 9,059.55.

Departmental Press

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since its inception.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Newspaper, magazine and periodical purchases are recorded under the general heading of Books and Newspapers.
	Details of expenditure on books, newspapers, magazines and periodicals incurred by the Department for Children, Schools and Families since its inception are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2007-08 129,159 
			 2008-09 124,408

Departmental Public Consultation

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many public consultations his Department has conducted in the last 12 months; how long each consultation was open for; how many responses were received in each case; and what the cost of conducting each consultation was.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In the last 12 months the Department has conducted 38 public consultations. The title of, length of, and the number of responses to, each consultation can be found in the table.
	The costs associated with each consultation can be obtained only at disproportionate cost as spend on consultations will include not only staffing costs but also potentially printing and distribution costs, web site design, venue hire, professional facilitators etc.
	
		
			  Consultation name  Responses  From  To 
			 The Role of Further Education Providers in Promoting Community Cohesion, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism 29 11 February 2008 6 May 2008 
			 Guidance on Child Trust Fund Top Ups for Looked After Children 11 20 February 2008 2 April 2008 
			 Guidance on Personal Education Allowances for Looked After Children 43 20 February 2008 2 April 2008 
			 Independent Review of the Primary CurriculumCall for Evidence 569 26 February 2008 30 April 2008 
			 Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver (Joint DCSF/DIUS consultation) 443 17 March 2008 9 June 2008 
			 Consultation on Draft School Admissions (Alteration and Variation of, and Objections to, Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 116 17 March 2008 28 April 2008 
			 Review of Mathematics Teaching in Early Years Settings and Primary Schools: Interim Report 97 19 March 2008 30 April 2008 
			 Consultation on Draft Education (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) (England) Regulations 2008 434 25 March 2008 17 June 2008 
			 Promoting achievement, valuing success: a strategy for 14-19 qualifications 173 31 March 2008 23 June 2008 
			 Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy. A commitment in The Children's Plan 234 3 April 2008 18 July 2008 
			 Statutory Guidance for Children's Trusts on the Duty to Cooperate 87 3 April 2008 26 June 2008 
			 Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's WellbeingA Call for Evidence (Interested parties version) 14 7 April 2008 30 June 2008 
			 Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's WellbeingA Call for Evidence (Parents version) 35 7 April 2008 13 July 2008 
			 Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's WellbeingA Call for Evidence (Children and Young People's version) 29 7 April 2008 13 July 2008 
			 The Management of Building Schools for the Future waves 7 to 15 145 9 April 2008 4 July 2008 
			 The CAMHS ReviewNext Steps to Improving the Emotional Weil-Being and Mental Health of Children and Young People. Call for Evidence 373 14 April 2008 7 July 2008 
			 Consultation on proposals relating to the commencement of section 37 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006staffing at foundation and voluntary schools with a religious character 16 2 May 2008 11 July 2008 
			 Consultation on introducing provisional registration with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) for trainee teachers, unqualified teachers and instructors 42 2 May 2008 27 June 2008 
			 Fair Playhave your say 9,409 20 May 2008 18 August 2008 
			 Youth Alcohol Action Plan 156 2 June 2008 7 July 2008 
			 Children and Adoption Act 2006Children Act 1989 Contact Activity Directions and Conditions (Financial Assistance) (England) Regulations 2008 17 4 June 2008 8 August 2008 
			 School Admissions Consultation 2008 635 12 June 2008 2 October 2008 
			 Schools' Role in Promoting Pupil Well-beingDraft Guidance for Consultation 143 3 July 2008 25 September 2008 
			 Proposals for Revisions To Legislation For Schools Causing Concern 27 3 July 2008 25 September 2008 
			 Delivering the Children's PlanStrengthening Children's Trusts: legislative options 145 3 July 2008 25 September 2008 
			 Zero Carbon School Buildings 106 10 July 2008 6 October 2008 
			 Draft Apprenticeships Bill 70 17 July 2008 8 October 2008 
			 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation 85 18 July 2008 10 October 2008 
			 Revised Statutory Guidance for local authorities in England to identify children not receiving a suitable education 1,086 7 August 2008 24 October 2008 
			 Local Authority Performance Targets for Under Achieving Pupil Groups 54 26 August 2008 6 October 2008 
			 Legislating for Sure Start Children's Centres 348 11 September 2008 6 November 2008 
			 The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 17 26 September 2008 7 November 2008 
			 A New Way Of Handling Parents' Complaints About School Issues 231 26 September 2008 21 November 2008 
			 Consultation on Amendments to the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) Disciplinary Functions Regulations 22 3 November 2008 28 November 2008 
			 School Admissions Consultation 2008Limited Extension 1,340 4 November 2008 15 November 2008 
			 Statutory Guidance: The Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Member for Children's Services and the Director of Children's Services 56 18 November 2008 10 February 2009 
			 Independent Review Mechanism (Fostering) 48 25 November 2008 24 December 2008 
			 Home EducationYour Views 2,093 19 January 2009 20 February 2009

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) staff and  (b) Ministerial away days have been organised by his Department and its predecessor in each of the last five years; and what the cost of such events was in each year.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on away days for staff is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the organisation of meetings outside the Department's buildings will be based on sound planning and, where accommodation costs and other charges are involved, our policies on appropriateness and value for money.
	Information on the number of away days organised for Ministers in each of the last five years are set out as follows.
	
		
			  Year( 1)  Number 
			 2004-05 1 
			 2005-06 1 
			 2006-07 3 
			 2007-08 1 
			 2008-09 2 
			 (1) Assumes financial, not calendar years. 
		
	
	The Department's accounting records do not collate information to the level of detail requested on event costs and a response could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All expenditure, however, has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of 'Managing Public Money' and the Treasury handbook on 'Regularity and Propriety'.

Departmental Translation Services

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on translation services in each area of allocation in 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Our records show that this Department spent 11,157 on translation services in 2008.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of children in areas of each decile of multiple deprivation of  (a) pupil residence and  (b) local authority did not gain any GCSEs in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The Department routinely publishes information about pupil attainment linked to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). The requested information linked to IDACI is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 not achieving any passes at GCSE and equivalents in 2008 by IDACI decile of pupil residence and school location 
			   Pupil residence( 2)  School location( 3) 
			  IDACI decile( 1)  Number of pupils not achieving any passes  Percentage not achieving any passes  Number of pupils not achieving any passes  Percentage not achieving any passes 
			 0-10% most deprived 2,527 3.7 1,260 2.8 
			 10-20% 1,963 3.0 1,155 2.5 
			 20-30% 1,422 2.3 1,278 2.0 
			 30-40% 1,132 1.9 1,211 2.0 
			 40-50% 874 1.5 1,070 1.5 
			 50-60% 733 1.3 858 1.5 
			 60-70% 592 1.0 970 1.4 
			 70-80% 485 0.9 808 1.3 
			 80-90% 447 0.8 823 1.3 
			 90-100% least deprived 351 0.6 734 1.2 
			 Total (4)10,662 1.8 10,167 1.7 
			 (1 )Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index 2007.  (2 )Pupil residence data is provisional 2008.  (3 )School location data is revised 2008.  (4 )Includes pupils of unknown residence.  Source: Secondary Achievement and Attainment Tables and National Pupil Database.

Guardianship: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in Lancashire have a special guardianship order; and how many of those orders include financial assistance from Lancashire county council.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of looked after children who have a special guardianship order broken down by local authority can be found in Table LAD6.
	Table LAD6 is taken from the Statistical First Release entitled Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008, which is located at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000810/index.shtml
	and can be found within the first set of additional tables.
	Information on how many of these special guardianship orders include financial assistance from Lancashire county council is not collected centrally by the Department.

Home Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of  (a) girls and  (b) boys are receiving home schooling in each local authority area, broken down by ethnic group.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Ofsted: Complaints

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much Ofsted spent on responding to complaints from  (a) schools and  (b) other education providers in the last four years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 30 March 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted inspects education and training for learners of all ages. The total cost of Ofsted's regional and central complaints teams covering the providers listed in the question and including an independent adjudication service, is approximately 443,000 per year (at 2008-09 prices).
	This includes (a) 416,000 on complaints relating to our inspection remit for state maintained schools, some independent schools, pupil referral units, and initial teacher education; and (b) 27,000 on complaints relating to our inspection remit for further education colleges and other providers of publicly funded adult education and work-based learning.
	This does not include the costs of inspectors and managers investigating individual complaints as part of their daily workload. These data are not collected as a matter of course, and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. Please note that Ofsted's financial records do not include this level of detail for earlier years, but the costs will have been broadly similar.
	Since the formation of the new Ofsted in April 2007, Ofsted has reviewed our complaints handling structure and processes and expects to reduce these costs significantly from September 2009.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to the Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Pre-school Education: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many childcare places there were in Tamworth constituency in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2008.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency. The tables show the number of child care places in Staffordshire local authority for 1997 and 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1:  Number( 1,2,3)  of day care places for children under eight years of age by type of provider Staffordshire local authority areaposition at 31 March 1997 
			  Type of provider  1997 
			 Day nurseries 4,900 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools 7,800 
			 Child minders 7,700 
			 Out of school clubs 1,300 
			 Holiday schemes 4,000 
			 Total 25,700 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data sourceChildren's Day Care Facilities Survey. (3) Figures may not add up to total due to rounding 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number( 1,2,3)  of registered child care places for children under eight years of age by type of care Staffordshire local authority areaposition at 31 March 2008 
			  Type of care  2008 
			 Full day care 11,400 
			 Sessional day care 3,300 
			 Child minders 4,500 
			 Out of school day care 7,900 
			 Crche day care 600 
			 Total 27,700 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data sourceOfsted (3) Figures may not add up to total due to rounding 
		
	
	Since 2003 Ofsted has been responsible for the registration and inspection of child care providers. Ofsted have produced figures on the numbers of registered child care providers and places on a quarterly basis from March 2003. Figures at 31 March 2008 were published in their report Registered Childcare Providers and Places, March 2008, which is available on their website,
	www.Ofsted.gov.uk/

Primary Schools: Closures

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex closed permanently in each year since 1990.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Decisions about school closures are taken under local decision-making arrangements which were introduced in September 1999. Information about decisions made under the arrangements that operated prior to September 1999 is not reliable and is not, therefore, included. The Department's data is recorded at local authority level and for the period from September 1999 there have been no primary school closures in East Sussex where the provision has ceased to be maintained and has not been replaced.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of children received free school meals in the last 12 months; and what proportion of children were entitled to free school meals in the last 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The available information relates to January 2008 and is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Nursery and primary schools( 1) , secondary schools( 2)  and special schools( 3) : School meal arrangements( 4) , January 2008 (final): Coverage: England 
			   Number on roll  Pupils taking free school meals( 5)  Percentage  taking free school meals  Number  known to be eligible for free meals  Percentage  known to be eligible for free meals 
			 Nursery Primary schools 4,127,840 538,460 13.0 641,490 15.5 
			 Secondary schools 3,294,580 326,480 9.9 433,140 13.1 
			 Special schools 90,690 24,520 27.0 28,680 31.6 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes CTCs and academies (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils. (5) The number of pupils recorded as taking a free meal on the census date in January. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and constituent parts.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	The information has been taken from SFR 09/2008: Pupil Characteristics and Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England: January 2008 which can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000786/index.shtml

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the change in his Department's deprivation expenditure relating to schools in  (a) 1999-2000,  (b) 2000-01,  (c) 2001-02 and  (d) 2002-03.

Jim Knight: Local authorities fund their schools by means of their own formulae to meet the priorities of their schools and pupils. The requirement to have a specific factor in the formula relating to deprivation was not introduced until the financial year 2002-03. Therefore there are no figures for planned changes in deprivation expenditure for the years specified.
	The needs assessment for each local authority prior to the introduction of Dedicated Schools Grant in 2006-07 contained indicators related to deprivation but was provided for all defined responsibilities of local authorities and schools. It is not possible to identify actual expenditure on deprivation as schools' expenditure is reported in terms of salaries, resource costs and premises costs for the school covering all pupils including those that are deprived. The returns do not identify expenditure on particular pupils or types of pupil.

Pupils: Health

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the number of children in maintained schools diagnosed with  (a) dyslexia,  (b) dyscalculia,  (c) dyspraxia,  (d) dysgraphia,  (e) Asperger's syndrome,  (f) attention deficit disorder,  (g) attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder,  (h) Meares-Irlen syndrome and (i) epilepsy.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department's most recent data on children identified with special educational needs (SEN) appear in Statistical First Release 15/2008, published on 25 June 2008. Table 9 provides data on types of need for children at the School Action Plus stage of SEN support and for those with statements. Our data collection categories of specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties include children whose learning difficulties entail  (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and  (g). Those identified with Meares-Irlen Syndrome could be included under the specific learning difficulties or sensory impairments categories. Those with epilepsy who have learning difficulties which call for special educational provision to be made would be included in the category relating to their particular learning difficulties. The data include children at non-maintained special schools. Data by type of need are not collected for children at the School Action stage of SEN support.
	The Government's child health strategy, Healthy Lives, Brighter Futures, published on 12 February, suggested as a flavour of prevalence that out of a child population of 80,000 there would be over 300 with epilepsy.

Pupils: Languages

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils with English as a second language had  (a) statemented and  (b) non-statemented special educational needs in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils whose first language was not English had  (a) statemented and  (b) non-statemented special educational needs in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The available information is shown in the table.
	Data on pupils with special educational needs, whose first language was not English, is only available from 2002.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, state-funded secondary( 1)  and all special schools( 2) : pupils( 3, 4 ) whose first language is not English: Statemented and non-statemented special educational need. January 2002-08: England 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English 640,120 667,260 681,230 706,910 748,000 808,830 823,830 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English with a statement of SEN 17,800 18,960 18,540 18,890 19,430 20,160 19,450 
			 Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English with a statement of SEN 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English with SEN without a statement 135,750 117,040 120,990 128,630 143,410 160,430 173,960 
			 Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English with SEN without a statement 21.2 17.5 17.8 18.2 19.2 19.8 21.1 
			 (1) Includes City technology colleges and academies. (2) Excludes general hospital schools. (3) Excludes dually registered pupils. (4) Pupils of compulsory school age and above. (5) Excludes pupils w here the first language w as not obtained or refused.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much on average his Department spent per pupil in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary education at the school, excluding special schools, where the average spend per pupil was (i) highest and (ii) lowest in each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The England average and local education authorities with the (i) highest and (ii) lowest per pupil revenue funding figures are shown in the table. A split of funding by primary and secondary schools is not available as the main source of fundingthe Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)is a funding distribution mechanism with a single guaranteed unit of funding for each pupil in an LA. The DSG is the per pupil funding from DCSF to an LA but, subject to satisfying the minimum funding guarantee for schools, it is left up to the LA to decide locally how much to fund their individual schools (via their local formula).
	The following figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19 and are provided in cash terms:
	
		
			  DSG plus grants revenue funding per pupil , 2008-09 
			
			 England average 4,690 
			   
			 Highest funded LA: Tower Hamlets 7,350 
			   
			 Lowest Funded LA: Leicestershire 4,150 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: cash. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools using supplementary information forms in their admissions procedures do not have a Plain English Crystal Mark; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We do not hold the information requested.

Schools: Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he takes to monitor the use by local education authorities of funding for schools allocated by local distribution formula; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires local authorities to prepare a statement containing such information relating to their planned expenditure as may be prescribed before the beginning of each financial year and at the end of each financial year a statement of the expenditure actually incurred in the year in a prescribed form. The prescribed forms are currently set out in the Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations 2008 (as amended) and the Education (Outturn Statements) (England) Regulations 2008.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils with  (a) statemented,  (b) non-statemented,  (c) any and  (d) no special educational needs attended schools assessed as inadequate by Ofsted in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 30 March 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	Table A shows how many pupils, with statemented, non-statemented, any and no special educational needs, attended schools which were in special measures at the end of each of the last five academic years. Table B shows these figures as percentages.
	Special measures is an Ofsted category, defined in the Education Act 2005, meaning that a school is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement. Please be aware that the framework for inspecting maintained schools changed in September 2005. As a result, there has been no consistent 'inadequate' category over this period. These tables are, therefore, limited to those maintained schools placed in special measures, as this category has been in place throughout the period in question.
	Pupil numbers have been calculated using information from the Department for Children, Schools and Families' School Census (pupil level) on pupils registered at one school only, and on pupils registered at two schools, but using their main school as recorded on the census. Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) do not complete the School Census at pupil level and so have been excluded from this analysis.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to the right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of pupils, with statemented, non-statemented, any and no special educational needs, attending schools (excluding pupil referral units) which were in special measures at 31 August 2004 to 2008 
			   Number of pupils in schools placed in special measures 
			   Special educational needs   
			   With special educational needs with statements  With special educational needs without statements  Any special educational needs  No special educational needs  Total 
			 2004 4,748 26,436 31,184 99,613 130,797 
			 2005 3,910 21,652 25,562 82,218 107,780 
			 2006 2,220 17,937 20,157 66,930 87,087 
			 2007 2,315 18,799 21,114 63,768 84,882 
			 2008 2,475 19,667 22,142 64,504 86,646 
			  Note:  Pupil referral units do not submit pupil-level data and are, therefore, excluded from this analysis.   Source:  Figures are based on School Census (pupil level) data from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Percentage of pupils, with statemented, non-statemented, any and no special educational needs, attending schools (excluding pupil referral units) which were in special measures at 31 August 2004 to 2008 
			   Percentage of pupils in schools placed in special measures 
			   Special educational needs   
			   With special educational needs with statements  With special educational needs without statements  Any special educational needs  No special educational needs  Total 
			 2004 4 20 24 76 100 
			 2005 4 20 24 76 100 
			 2006 3 21 23 77 100 
			 2007 3 22 25 75 100 
			 2008 3 23 26 74 100 
			  Notes:  1. Percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.  2. Pupil referral units do not submit pupil-level data and are, therefore, excluded from this analysis.   Source:  Figures are based on School Census (pupil level) data from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Special Educational Needs

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many requests for statements of special educational need were received in the last three years for which figures are available; and how many such requests were processed within 18 weeks.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department only collects figures on the number of new statements issued each year and the number of statutory assessments which were carried out but did not result in a statement. The figures for the last three available years are in the following table. We do not collect figures on the number of requests for assessments, where this request has been refused.
	The Audit Commission has published figures on the percentage, rather than the number, of proposed statements issued within 18 weeks, both where permitted exceptions to time limits have been called upon and where they have not. The figures for the last three years are in the following table. This Audit Commission best value performance indicator has been replaced by an indicator in the national indicator set on the percentage of final statements produced in 26 weeks. The first set of figures will be available later this year.
	
		
			   Percentage of proposed statements of special educational needs issued by local authorities in a financial year and prepared within 18 weeks( 1) 
			  Financial year  Excluding exceptions  Including exceptions 
			 2007-08 97.6 86.4 
			 2006-07 97.5 86.5 
			 2005-06 96.0 82.7 
			 1 Figures available from: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/performance/dataprovision.asp 
		
	
	
		
			  Calendar year  (a) Total children for whom a statement of special needs was made for the first time  (b) Children assessed during the calendar year for whom no statement was issued( 1) 
			 2007 23,510 1,270 
			 2006 22,600 1,170 
			 2005 24,040 1,140 
			 (1) Figures available from table 3a: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000794/index.shtml

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has provided to non-maintained special schools since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data on the funding paid to non-maintained special schools back to 1997 are contained within the larger revenue and capital funding streams paid to the education sector as a whole. There would be a disproportionate cost in disaggregating this data to provide the information requested. However, data for the last three financial years can be provided from operational data that are currently available and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   
			  Financial year  Capital funding  Revenue funding  Total 
			 2008-09 8,804,787 3,101,163 9,905,950 
			 2007-08 6,211,793 3,338,762 9,550,555 
			 2006-07 5,932,967 3,201,283 9,134,250

Strengthening Families Grant

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department allocated to local authorities through dedicated funding for outreach and family support in each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: Supporting families is a key priority for the Department for Children, Schools and Families and we are working closely with local authorities to strengthen their capacity to meet the full range of local family and parenting needs.
	We are making 102 million available between 2008-09 and 2010-11 to expand parent support advisers who work directly with parents in a school context to all local authorities.
	In addition over 150 million is being made available between 2009-10 and 2010-11 for targeted initiatives to support families with high levels of need, with particular focus on parenting skills. This will enable all local authorities to have Family Intervention Projects, the Parenting Early Intervention Programme and to each employ two expert parenting practitioners.
	We are continuing to invest heavily in Sure Start Children's Centres with over 3 billion being made available to local authorities over the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11 and which includes additional funding to enable local authorities to fund two additional full-time outreach posts in Sure Start Children's Centres serving the most disadvantaged communities.

Teachers: Training

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of time taken training new teachers is spent on training on equality and diversity matters.

Jim Knight: The statutory requirements for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) require providers to design their provision to enable all trainees to meet the statutory standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
	Equality training must form an element of all programmes of ITT but the length of time studying the topic is not prescribed. In order to meet the standards for QTS, all trainees must demonstrate an awareness of equality matters, and understand how these contribute to the well-being of children and young people. They must demonstrate that they know how a variety of influences including social, religious, ethnic, cultural and linguistic affect child development. Trainees must demonstrate that they are aware of their responsibilities in relation to equality legislation and duties, and be aware of the range of policies that support school practice, for example those that relate to behaviour (including bullying), racial harassment and abuse.
	Substantial guidance and relevant case study exemplification on equality issues accompany the Professional Standards for QTS and requirements for ITT.

Trust Schools

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what powers a local authority has in relation to admissions at a school that has attained trust status; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: All local authorities are required to have in place a scheme each year for co-ordinating admissions arrangements for all maintained schools and academies in their area. Trust schools are maintained foundation schools supported by a foundationa charity referred to as a trustand as foundation schools they are their own admission authority. Nevertheless, as maintained schools, they must operate within the same legal framework as all other maintained schools, which means they must have an admissions policy in accordance with the School Admissions Code and they are not allowed to introduce any new selection by ability.
	Local authorities retain a range of powers in respect of all maintained schools in their area, including those that are their own admission authority. For example, local authorities now have a duty to report annually to the Schools Adjudicator on all admission arrangements in their area, including those of own-admission schools. The Schools Adjudicator can act on any information included within these reports. This is in addition to the local authority duty to refer objections to the Schools Adjudicator if they consider or are made aware of any admission arrangements by any other admission authority that are unlawful or do not comply with the mandatory requirements of the Code, or that appear unfair, subjective, unclear or encourage social segregation.
	Local authorities also have powers in respect of children in care and children with statements: when a LA directs an admission authority to admit a child in care, the governing body must admit the child at any specified time in the year, even if the school is full. Equally, a maintained school must admit a child if the LA names that school on the child's statement.
	Trust schools are required to play their full part in taking hard to place pupils, having fair admissions and working with other schools in admissions forums and co-ordinated admissions arrangements.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have met officials of (i) the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and (ii) the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit to discuss energy and climate change policy.

Joan Ruddock: The Secretary of State for DECC and officials work closely with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and the Strategy Unit on a number of issues and there have been many meetings between the units and my Department since DECC's inception in October.
	Particular areas where they have collaborated include the assessment of Public Service Agreement PSA 27 (to lead the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change), delivery of insulation measures and carbon budgets.
	In addition, the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit is present at relevant meetings of the Delivery and Strategy High-Level Board for the Climate Change and Energy Programme.

Departmental Absenteeism

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff of his Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost to his Department and (ii) number of working hours lost as a result of such absence; and what guidance his Department issued to staff in respect of absence on those days.

Mike O'Brien: Centrally held records relate to absences for medical reasons and also cover absences such as maternity leave. Beyond this special leave may be granted by line managers in accordance with centrally issued guidelines, e.g. for family bereavement. These are not recorded centrally and to do so would incur a disproportionate cost, although the Department does put arrangements in place in the event of industrial action.
	Guidance was issued in respect of the adverse weather of the 2 and 3 February, 2009. Staff were advised to make alternative arrangements such as different means of transport or working from home. Staff were also advised to contact their line managers, without delay, to agree the most appropriate course of action. Managers had a range of options available to ensure business continuity, such as:
	Working flexibly or from home.
	Different work patterns to ease disruption of public transport, e.g. start work later.
	Using annual leave.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 705W, on departmental buildings, how many staff have been moved into 3 Whitehall Place since his Department was created; and how many have yet to be moved there.

Mike O'Brien: A total of 376 DECC staff had moved into the Department's London headquarters at 3 Whitehall Place as of 23 March 2009. Approximately 530 London staff have yet to move.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel has been used by his Department since its inception.

Mike O'Brien: As at 30 March 2009, the Department has used approximately 1,066,912 kWh of electricity and 570,944 kWh of gas since its inception. This is based on average daily usage.

Departmental Responsibilities

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what projects for which his Department is responsible have undergone a gateway review in the last two years.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change is responsible for the following projects which have undergone a Gateway review in the last two years:
	(i) Nuclear Fuel Assurance/Enrichment Bond;
	(ii) Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study;
	(iii) Government Carbon Offsetting Fund II (currently in progress);
	(iv) Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project;
	(v) Low Level Waste Repository competition;
	(vi) Sellafield competition; and
	(vii) Asset Use.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements since its inception.

Mike O'Brien: Since the creation of DECC, there has been a small additional cost in terms of officials' time to monitor compliance with PSA27: Lead the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change. The work has involved developing information on performance indicators, completing self-assessments and reviewing progress, which has been discussed at meetings of the Delivery and Strategy High-Level Board for the Climate Change and Energy programme.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by (i) civil servants and (ii) Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change delegates responsibility for booking individuals on training programmes to its various business units and does not, therefore, maintain central records. To compile a central record would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Much of the Department's learning is provided through the DECC school, which aims to provide everyone within the Department with formal and informal opportunities to develop a detailed understanding of energy and climate change policies, industries, markets and key technologies. It also aims to develop the specific skills needed to carry out particular roles in our new Department.
	The school has four work streams:
	The DECC School Prospectus for Faculties, Seminars  Visits.
	Academic.
	Vocational.
	Skills for Professionals.
	Through the DECC school staff can achieve credits towards vocational and professional qualifications on the basis of business need.

Departmental Vacancies

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many vacant posts at each Civil Service grade there were in his Department on 1 March 2009.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change was established on 3 October 2008, bringing together parts of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. It is now engaged in business planning for the period 2009-10 to 2010-11 which will result in agreed resource allocations for the Department's business units. This will determine the number of vacancies there are to be filled. Local business managers will then determine the appropriate grade to recruit based on business need and available budget.
	This process was on going on the 1 March, 2009.

Electricity Generation

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what electricity generating plants of each fuel type planning consent has been  (a) sought and  (b) granted in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The following table shows the applications for consent for electricity generating stations in England and Wales made to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (and previously the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department of Trade and Industry) within the previous five years and those that were granted. These include applications made under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (i.e. for generating stations over 50 MW in England and Wales) as well as applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 and certain appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 which were decided jointly with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
	Applications for consent for onshore electricity generating stations of up to and including 50 MW are made to local planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and these are not included in the table.
	
		
			  Applications received and consented in previous five years 
			  Date of application  Company / location  Type  Max output  Status 
			 February 2009 Helius Energy plc Bristol Dock Avonmouth Biomass 100 MW Under consideration 
			 January 2009 Centrica (RBW) Ltd Race Bank Greater Wash Offshore wind farm 620 MW Under consideration 
			 December 2008 Npower Renewables Ltd Carnedd Wen Powys Onshore wind farm 130-250 MW Under consideration 
			 December 2008 Centrica (DSW) Ltd Docking Shoal Greater Wash Offshore wind farm 540 MW Under consideration 
			 October 2008 Marshland Windfarm Ltd Norfolk Onshore Windfarm 57 MW Application withdrawn -February 2009 
			 September 2008 Renewable Energy Ltd Peterborough Fengate Biomass/ EFW 66 MW Under consideration 
			 August 2008 Port Talbot P/Stn, ESBI/Acorn Power, Neath, Port Talbot, Wales CCGT + black start 1,100 MW Application withdrawn -November 2008 
			 August 2008 Abernedd Power Co Ltd Abernedd Power Plant Baglan Bay CCGT 870 MW Under consideration 
			 July 2008 MGT Teesside Limited Teesside Renewable Energy Plant Teesport Biomass 295 MW Under consideration 
			 May 2008 CeltPower Limited Llandinam nr Newtown Powys Onshore wind farm (repowering and extension) 126 MW Under consideration 
			 May 2008 Fferm Wynt Llaithddu Cyf Llaithddu Powys Onshore wind farm 66.7 MW Under consideration 
			 April 2008 Centrica Leasing (KL) Kings Lynn B Norfolk CCGT 1,020 MW Granted - February 2009 
			 March 2008 Humber Wind Limited Humber Gateway Offshore wind farm 300 MW Under consideration 
			 March 2008 Powerfuel Power Hatfield Park Doncaster CCGT and ICGCC 900 MW Granted - February 2009 
			 February 2008 Ormonde Energy Ormonde - East Irish Sea(1) Offshore wind farm 150 MW Granted -September 2008 
			 February 2008 Tilbury Green Power Ltd Tilbury Docks Essex Biomass and Energy from Waste 60 MW Under consideration 
			 December 2007 Pulse Tidal Upper Burcom River Humber Tidal power 0.15 MW Granted - April 2008 
			 November 2007 Nuon UK Ltd Llanbadarn Fynydd Powys Onshore wind farm 59.5 MW Under consideration 
			 Appeal recovered - October 2007 CRE Energy Land adjacent to Alcan Smelter Lynemouth Northumberland Onshore wind farm TCPA Appeal (joint decision by DECC and CLG SoS) 16.1 MW Granted - January 2001 
			 July 2007 Bridestones Developments Ltd Carrington CCGT (ext from previous 380MW) 860 MW Granted-July 2008 
			 July 2007 Norsea Pipelines Ltd Seal Sands Teesside CHP CCGT 800 MW Under consideration 
			 June 2007 Dong Energy Gunfleet Sands II - Outer Thames Estuary Offshore wind farm 64 MW Granted - February 2008 
			 April 2007 Wave Dragon Wales Ltd Wave Dragon Wave energy 7MW Under consideration 
			 February 2007 Helius Energy Hobson Way Stallingborough, Lincs Bio-mass 65 MW Granted - June 2008 
			 January 2007 Thor Cogeneration Seal Sands, Teeside CHP-CCGT 1.020 MW Granted - August 2008 
			 January 2007 Centrica (Lines) Off Lincolnshire Offshore wind farm 250 MW Granted - October 2008 
			 January 2007 Cirrus Energy Cirrus Shell Flat Array Offshore wind farm 270 MW Withdrawn -November 2008 
			 January 2007 Ineos Chlor West Point Runcorn CHP - EFW 100 MW Granted -September 2008 
			 December 2006 E.ON UK Plc, Kingsnorth, Medway Coal-fired 1,600 MW+50 MW 'black start' Under consideration 
			 October 2006 PrenergyPower Ltd Puckey House Port Talbot Docks Bio-mass 350 MW Granted -November 2007 
			 August 2006 Barking Power Ltd Barking Power Station Dagenham, Essex CCGT (ext from previous 470MW) 1,000 MW Granted -December 2007 
			 June 2006 SWRDA Wave Hub Off North Cornwall Wave energy 20 MW Granted -September 2007 
			 May 2006 Scira Offshore Energy Greater Wash Offshore wind farm 315 MW Granted - August 2008 
			 May 2006 Severn Power Ltd Uskmouth Newport CCGT 800 MW Granted -September 2007 
			 April 2006 Steadings Windfarm Ltd Steadings nr Kirkwhelpington Northumberland Onshore wind farm 66 MW Under consideration 
			 March 2006 Bridestones Power Ltd Carrington Manchester CCGT 380 MW Granted-July 2007 
			 March 2006 Walney Dong Ltd Walney - East Irish Sea Offshore wind farm 600 MW Granted -November 2007 
			 March 2006 Morecambe Wind Ltd West of Duddon Sands - East Irish Sea Offshore wind farm 500 MW Granted -September 2008 
			 January 2006 Peel Environmental Ince Ltd Ince Cheshire Refuse Derived Fuel 95 MW Under consideration 
			 December 2005 EDF Energy West Burton Power Station Nottinghamshire CCGT 1,270 MW Granted - October 2007 
			 December 2005 EDF Energy Sutton Bridge B CCGT Gas Turbine 1260MW+20 MW 'black start' Under consideration 
			 December 2005 Npower Renewables Middlemoor Northumberland Onshore windfarm 75 MW Granted - August 2008 
			 December 2005 E.ON UK Isle of Grain Kent CCGT-CHP 1,260 MW Granted - October 2006 
			 December 2005 Amec Project Investments Ltd Ray wind Nr Kirkwhelpington Northumberland Onshore wind farm 60 MW Under consideration 
			 November 2005 Conoco Refinery (Immingham CHP) South Killingholme CHP CCGT 1,230 MW Granted - August 2006 
			 November 2005 Thanet Offshore Wind Ltd Outer Thames Estuary Offshore wind farm 300 MW Granted-December 2006 
			 November 2005 Gwynt y Mor Offshore Wind Farm Ltd Gwynt y Mor - off North Wales Offshore wind farm 750 MW Granted - December 2008 
			 October 2005 Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Ltd Outer Thames Estuary Offshore wind farm 500 MW Granted  February 2007 
			 September 2005 Mark Caudwell Limited Orby Marsh, Skegness Onshore wind farm 54MW Application Withdrawn -2008 
			 September 2005 Scottish and Southern Energy Fiddler's Ferry Warrington Retrofit of FGD 1,200 MW Granted - April 2006 
			 September 2005 E.on UK Drakelow South Derbyshire CCGT 1,220 MW Granted - October 2007 
			 July 2005 Ormonde Energy Limited Ormonde - East Irish Sea Offshore wind farm 108 MW Granted - February 2007 
			 July 2005 Eclipse Energy Limited Ormonde - East Irish Sea Offshore gas station 93 MW Granted - February 2007 
			 June 2005 London Array Ltd Outer Thames Estuary Offshore wind farm 1,000 MW Granted -December 2006 
			 April 2005 RWE Didcot B Oxfordshire Extension - new CCGT turbines 120 MW Granted - January 2006 
			 February 2005 Milford Power Ltd Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Wales CCGT 1,600 MW Application withdrawn - June 2005 
			 February 2005 CDCE Ltd, Purland Road, W Thamesmead, CHP-GT 100 MW Application withdrawn -October 2006 
			 January 2005 RWE Npower Pembroke CCGT 2,000 MW Granted - February 2009 
			 November 2004 Corus Strip Products UK Corus Steel Works Port Talbot ext: turbo-alternator 20 MW Granted - March 2005 
			 September 2004 Devon Wind Power Fullabrook Down North Devon Onshore wind farm 66 MW Granted - October 2007 
			 August 2004 RWE Npower Little Barford Bedfordshire OCGT-Black Start 20 MW Granted-November 2004 
			 March 2004 EDF (Northern Offshore Wind) Teesside Offshore wind farm 100MW Granted -September 2007 
			 1 replaces previous wind farm consent issued on February 2007 
		
	
	
		
			  Applications older than five years but consented in previous 5 years 
			 January 2004 E.ON UK Renewables Ltd Tween Bridge Doncaster Onshore wind farm 66 MW Granted - February 2008 
			 October 2003 Renewable Energy Systems Keadby Nth Lines Onshore wind farm 85 MW Granted - February 2008 
			 October 2003 EDF Energy Cottam Power Station Retford, Notts retrofit of FGD 2,000 MW Granted - March 2004 
			 August 2003 RWE Innogy Aberthaw South Glamorgan retrofit of FGD Plant 1,500 MW Granted - June 2004 
			 July 2003 Peel Wind Power Ltd Scout Moor Wind Farm Edenfield, Lanes Onshore wind farm 65 MW Granted - May 2005 
			 November 2002 Npower Renewables Little Cheyne Court Walland Marsh, Kent Onshore wind farm 78 MW Granted - October 2005 
			 June 2002 Rugeley Power Rugeley Power Station Staffordshire retrofit of FGD plant 1,000 MW Granted - January 2004 
			 March 2000 Scottish and Southern Energy Fiddler's Ferry Warrington Retrofit of FGD plant 500 MW Granted - June 2005 
			 September 1999 Riverside Resource Recovery Ltd Belvedere SE London Energy from waste 70 MW Granted - June 2006 
			 Key:  Glossary: EFW- Energy from waste CCGT- Combined cycle gas turbine ICGCC - Integrated coal gasification combined cycle CHP - Combined heat and power FGD - Flue gas desulphurisation

Electricity Generation

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what increase in costs to the national grid would result from the connection to the grid of a new electricity generation unit of  (a) 1600 MW and  (b) 1800 MW.

Mike O'Brien: National grid advise that connecting larger units of up to 1800 MW to the grid would create additional costs, principally, because national grid would need to carry more reserve capacity than currently in the event of loss of generation from one of those units.
	National grid has recently published a consultation on this issue and estimates that the additional costs of increasing the reserve to allow for a potential loss of power in-feed in excess of the current level of 1320 MW would be approximately 95 million per annum for a generation unit of 1600 MW and 160 million per annum for a generation unit of 1800 MW. Any changes to current arrangements are subject to Ofgem approval. Other costs of connecting individual power stations to the grid are determined by national grid on a case-by-case basis, and depend on a wide range of factors including location, system capacity, voltage and land availability.

Energy Saving Trust

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what arrangements have been made for  (a) the Energy Saving Trust and  (b) the Carbon Trust to account to Parliament for their (i) policy and (ii) expenditure.

Joan Ruddock: The Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust are both private companies limited by guarantee. They both receive funding from Government Departments and the devolved Administrations either in the form of contractual arrangements or as a grant offer. These grants and contracts are offered to the trusts to support their activities, which contribute to the Government's policy objectives on climate change, accelerating the move to a low carbon economy, resource efficiency and fuel poverty. The trusts' activities form an important element of the Government's Climate Change Programme. The relevant Government funders are accountable to Parliament for their spending in the normal way.
	The trusts are both subject to annual reports by independent auditors and have their activities evaluated as part of independent reviews, including, for the Carbon Trust, a National Audit Office review and subsequent Public Accounts Committee hearing and report in 2007-08.

Energy: Conservation

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of visits by assessors to homes of old age pensioners, under the energy conservation and insulation package announced on 11 September 2008, whose visit has not resulted in insulation of lofts, walls or lagging of pipes; and whether assessors are paid for the time taken and travel costs that do not result in energy conservation action;
	(2)  what requirement has been placed on companies contracted to deliver the package on home cavity wall and loft insulation measures in pensioner households, as announced on 11 September 2008, to  (a) pay assessors for each visit made to pensioner or other households to which they have been sent, notwithstanding whether an energy conservation package is consequently installed and  (b) to use the assessor visits to offer other energy services provided by the contractor.

Joan Ruddock: The package of home energy efficiency measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in September last year is delivered principally through two Government schemes; the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Warm Front.
	CERT is a market-based mechanism that operates through an obligation on energy suppliers. The Government are not party to the contractual arrangements between suppliers and their delivery partners, including assessors, as this is an internal commercial matter for them.
	None of the additional funding granted to the Warm Front Scheme in the September 2008 announcement has been or will be used to pay for assessments. Eaga plc, the Warm Front Scheme Manager, does not offer any other energy services to the household when assessing a property.
	On 11 September my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also announced a new Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). The Government are currently consulting on CESP proposals.

Fossil Fuels

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the levels of investment by UK-based companies in  (a) oil sands and shale oil,  (b) conventional oil projects,  (c) gas projects and  (d) coal-fired power stations in the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not make estimates of the levels of investment in these categories whether by UK-based companies or in aggregate. We do publish annually, in UK Energy Sector Indicators, data from the Office for National Statistics on total investment by the UK (upstream) oil and gas industry, the UK (downstream) gas industry and the UK electricity industry. UK Energy Sector Indicators 2008 is available online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energv/statistics/publications/indicators/page46000.html
	The data are presented, respectively, in charts E1.8, E1.14 and E1.11 and the data are included in the background indicators dataset spreadsheet at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file48503.xls

Fuel Poverty

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much of the proposed 1 billion scheme to help fuel-poor individuals has been made available; and how much is available for claims for insulation installations under the Warm Front scheme for over 60 year-olds.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 29 January 2009
	On 11 September 2008, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the launch of a l billion package of measures to help families permanently cut their energy bills, known as the Home Energy Saving Programme. This included a 20 per cent. increase in the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) estimated to be worth around 560 million (an obligation on energy suppliers to install energy efficiency measures in households), 350 million for the new Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), and 90 million of additional Government funding, providing increased funding for the Warm Front Scheme and for Cold Weather Payments.
	Energy suppliers' targets under CERT are set in terms of household carbon savings rather than spending. Ofgem, the Scheme Administrator, does not collect data on energy supplier spend. Based on the costs of the measures promoted by suppliers we estimate that the overall costs to suppliers of delivering their obligations will exceed 3 billion over the period 2008-11. This includes an additional 560 million suppliers are expected to spend as a result of the increased CERT target announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in September.
	The CESP consultation was launched on 12 February alongside the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy and CERT consultations.
	An estimated 5.8 million Cold Weather Payments worth 145 million have been made for Great Britain this winter based on the temperature criterion having been met up to 26 January 2009.
	From 1 October 2008 to 11 January 2009 the Warm Front Scheme spent approximately 50 million of the extra 74 million added to the budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10, with the residual 24 million allocated to the second of these years.
	Warm Front does not specifically designate funding for insulation measures, neither does it designate different levels of funding to different qualifying demographics. Pensioners in receipt of qualifying benefits are allocated a grant (either 2,700, or 4,000 where an oil measure is requested) that can be used for a range of energy efficiency measures, which may include insulation.

Fuel Poverty: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many fuel-poor households there were in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: The most recent year for which estimates of fuel poverty are available at constituency level is 2003. The data for fuel poverty levels for 2003 come from the Fuel Poverty Indicator dataset, available online at
	http://www.fuelpovertyindicator.org.uk/
	In 2003, there were around 2,300 households in the constituency of West Chelmsford living in fuel poverty. Fuel poverty has increased substantially in recent years due to high fuel prices but figures are not available for more recent years at constituency level.

Government Communication Network

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 172-73W.

Insulation: Tendring

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding for loft and cavity wall insulation for  (a) priority groups and  (b) older people will be made available to Tendring residents.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 5 February 2009
	 Warm Front is the Government's main scheme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England for vulnerable householders. It is administered and managed by eaga plc on behalf of the Government. The scheme provides grants for specified heating and insulation measures up to 2,700 in value (4,000 where the work includes installation of an oil fired central heating system).
	To be eligible for the scheme the applicant or their spouse must be a homeowner or tenant in the private sector and in receipt of a qualifying disability or income related benefit, income-based jobseeker's allowance or working tax credit, child tax credit, disability living allowance, pension credit, council tax benefit or housing benefit (both including a disability element).
	All eligible Warm Front applicants will receive a survey of their property (which includes energy efficiency advice) and two energy efficient light bulbs. Warm Front can also provide a package of insulation and heating measures tailored to each property, drawn from the following measures listed:
	 Insulation measures
	Loft insulation
	Draught proofing
	Cavity-wall insulation
	Hot-water-tank insulation
	Funding is also available in Great Britain from the big six energy suppliers under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). CERT places an obligation on the suppliers to meet targets by encouraging households to take-up energy efficiency measures. It is at suppliers' discretion how they meet their targets, but they will typically promote subsidised offers for a range of measures, including loft and cavity wall insulation and high-efficiency lights and appliances. Suppliers must focus at least 40 per cent. of their CERT activity on a priority group of vulnerable and low-income households, which includes those over 70.
	The level of subsidy varies over time and from supplier to supplier, but all currently offer around a 50 per cent. discount on loft insulation (where less than 60 mm is in place) and cavity wall insulation. For those in the priority group, these measures are often available free of charge, subject to a survey of the property.
	Data are not currently available on the geographical distribution of measures under CERT. For Great Britain as a whole, the scheme led to an estimated supplier investment of almost 2 billion between 2002 and 2008, leading to some 5 million households benefiting from insulation measures. We estimate that the current three-year phase of the obligation will lever over 3 billion of supplier investment by 2011, benefiting a further 5 million households with significant energy saving measures.

Natural Gas

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the national policy statement on gas storage infrastructure  (a) to be published and  (b) to become operational in respect of new projects.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Department of Energy and Climate Change currently expects the national policy statement (NPS) on gas storage infrastructure to be published for consultation in the summer. The NPS is currently expected to be designated as part of the suite of Energy Infrastructure NPSs to become operational in 2010.

Nuclear Power: Research

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Government spent on nuclear fusion research  (a) in the UK and  (b) internationally in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government provide support for nuclear fusion research in the UK through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
	UK funding, including the Nuclear Contract of Association, is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2003-04 19.2 
			 2004-05 22.7 
			 2005-06 20.7 
			 2006-07 26.0 
			 2007-08 26.1 
		
	
	The UK does not fund international fusion research directly, though it contributes to the Euratom European fusion research programme through its payments to the EU budget.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how much has been raised through the sale of renewables obligation certificates by central Government departments in each year of the scheme;
	(2)  how many renewables obligation certificates have been supplied to central Government departments in each year of the scheme.

Mike O'Brien: Details of renewables obligation certificates issued can be found in the Renewables and CHP register located on the Ofgem website. According to the register no central Government Departments are accredited to receive renewables obligation certificates directly.

Renewable Energy: Manpower

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many manufacturing jobs there were in the renewable energy industry in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1266W, regarding manufacturing jobs created in the renewable energy industry.
	DECC does not collate employment information for this sector on a year by year basis.

Sellafield

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the level of production of the mixed-oxide fuel plant at Sellafield has been in each year of its operation; and what the net return of the plant was in each of those years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The production and net cash flow figures for each year of operation are:
	
		
			  Year  tHM  Cash flow  ( million s) 
			 2002-03 0.0 -78.6 
			 2003-04 0.0 -83.3 
			 2004-05 0.3 -110.1 
			 2005-06 2.3 -79.9 
			 2006-07 2.6 -92.1 
			 2007-08 0.0 -92.1 
			 2008-09 1.1 (1)-89.9 
			 Totals 6.3 -626.0 
			 (1) Estimate 
		
	
	Net cash flow is arrived at by deducting operating costs, overheads and subcontracts from sales. 498 million of capital costs and 139.4 million of commissioning costs were incurred prior to the production phase of commissioning.

Sellafield

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent risk assessment his Department has undertaken in relation to hydrogen evolution in silos at Sellafield.

Mike O'Brien: Assessment of the risks associated with the inventory in the silos is a matter for the site licence company, Sellafield Ltd., and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
	Assessing and managing the risk of hydrogen generation is fundamental to the safe operation and maintenance of the Magnox swarf storage silo. The risks are continuously monitored and reviewed regularly and updated throughout the year.
	Robust and ongoing risk assessment is assured through HSE scrutiny of safety cases for ongoing operations and plant modifications. These risk assessments are underpinned by regular audits and inspections.

Warm Front Scheme

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people aged  (a) under and  (b) over 60 years in each (i) region and (ii) local authority area (A) were offered a Warm Front grant, (B) were required to pay a top-up to a Warm Front grant and (C) did not take up a Warm Front grant offer in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: The requested figures are available from the beginning of the current phase of the Warm Front scheme (June 2005). The number of applicants  (a) under and  (b) over 60 years of age in each (i) region and (ii) local authority area who (A) were offered a Warm Front grant and (B) required to make a contribution to the cost of works have been placed in the House Library.
	(C) Data on those who do not proceed with grant assistance is not recorded by region or local authority area, but we can advise that since June 2005, 6,076 households have withdrawn from the scheme and a further 14,326 households (as at October 2008) have put their application on hold. Rising costs have led to more people being asked to contribute and this has probably contributed to these figures. Grant maxima are being considered as part of the review of Warm Front.

Warm Front Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what payment is made to Eaga in respect of each Warm Front installation of  (a) energy efficient light bulbs,  (b) draught proofing and  (c) hot water tank jackets.

Joan Ruddock: The Department does not make payments to Eaga in respect of each individual measures. However, the Department does pay both fixed and variable fees to Eaga, which in turn pays the suppliers.
	The average costs of the three measures, as charged against the individual grant, are as follows:
	 (a) Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs sent by post8.09
	 (b) Draught proofing142.83
	 (c) Hot water tank jacket16.98

Warm Front Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints regarding the Warm Front scheme his Department and its predecessor have recorded  (a) from residents of Birkenhead constituency and  (b) nationally.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 February 2009
	Eaga, the scheme manager, records and monitors complaints received about the scheme on DECC's behalf. The recent NAO report states that complaints to the scheme have remained relatively static at around 1.5 per cent. between June 2005 and March 2008, and of these complaints 0.5 per cent. were upheld.
	In the period 1 June 2005 to 31 January 2009, Eaga recorded 13,107 complaints nationally, of which 4,574 were upheld. Of these, 75 were in the Birkenhead constituency where 24 were upheld.
	The Department has kept a record of all Warm Front correspondence cases since January 2007. The total number of cases received by the Department is approximately 1,750. However not all of these cases will necessarily be complaints. DECC has recently put in place mechanisms for recording and monitoring all complaints received, though substantive figures are not yet available.

Warm Front Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many boilers have been  (a) installed under the Warm Front scheme and  (b) replaced under the scheme (i) in Birkenhead constituency and (ii) nationally.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 February 2009
	In the period from 1 June 2005 to 31 January 2009 the number of boilers installed (as part of a full central heating installation), and the number of replacement boilers (as a repair of an existing system) offered under the Warm Front scheme in Birkenhead and England were:
	 (i) Birkenhead
	 (a) 338 boilers installed (full central heating installations).
	 (b) 856 replacement boilers (central heating repairs),
	 (ii) England
	 (a) 66,505 boilers installed (full central heating installations).
	 (b) 208,734 replacement boilers (central heating repairs).

Warm Front Scheme

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many houses have been insulated in  (a) England,  (b) Hampshire and  (c) Winchester under Government schemes in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 23 March 2009
	Energy suppliers are not currently required to collect data beyond a GB-wide level. Figures published by Ofgem show the numbers treated as follows:
	
		
			   Priority Group  Non-Priority Group 
			  Energy Efficiency Commit ment (2002- 05)   
			 Cavity Wall Insulation 441,213 350,311 
			 Loft Insulation (Top-Up) 343,467 185,029 
			 Loft Insulation (Virgin) 142,361 83,884 
			 DIY Loft Insulation 1,999,548 13,979,819 
			 Solid Wall 17,352 6,378 
			
			  Energy Efficiency C ommitment 2 (2005- 08)   
			 Cavity Wall Insulation 860,821 900,008 
			 Loft Insulation (Top-Up) 787,572 509,685 
			 Loft Insulation (Virgin) 297,281 193,489 
			 DIY Loft Insulation 3,179,218 28,803,719 
			 Solid Wall Insulation 29,550 11,769 
		
	
	 Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (2008-2011)
	Initial figures released by Ofgem for the first three quarters of the present obligation show:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Cavity Wall Insulation 401,707 
			 Loft Insulation 405,179 
			 Solid Wall Insulation 7,161 
		
	
	A detailed breakdown will not become available until the close of the obligation in March 2011.
	 Warm Front
	Warm Front is the Government's main Scheme for tacking fuel poverty and delivers a range of energy saving measures to those in receipt of qualifying benefits. The Scheme is administered by a single contractor, eaga plc, and operates throughout England. The number of homes insulated under the scheme are as follows:
	
		
			   Scheme year  
			  Area  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1)  Total 
			 Winchester constituency 118 85 48 43 83 377 
			 Hampshire 5,917 3,193 2,732 1,983 1,948 15,773 
			 England (All) 149,708 80,564 95,458 121,624 98,449 545,803 
			 (1) Data available up to 25 January 2009.

Warm Front Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Warm Front contractors are employed in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England.

Joan Ruddock: The number of contractors employed in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England is as follows:
	
		
			  Area  Number 
			 Shropshire 21 
			 West Midlands 36 
			 England 121

Warm Front Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of Warm Front grants awarded in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England were subject to an excess payment in 2008.

Joan Ruddock: The proportions of Warm Front grants in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) West Midlands and  (c) England that required a client contribution are detailed as follows. These data are based on the period 1 April 2008 until 6 March 2009, which is most recent period for which consolidated data is available.
	
		
			  Area  Proportion of people required to pay a contribution (percentage) 
			 Shropshire 23 
			 West Midlands 36 
			 England 24

Warm Front Scheme

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations his Department has received from  (a) Warm Front contractors and  (b) recipients of Warm Front grants on the reliability of Ravenheat boilers installed under the Warm Front scheme; what analysis his Department has made of such representations; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Neither DECC nor its predecessors have any record of representations concerning Ravenheat boilers. However our existing correspondence records only date back to 2007, while the last Ravenheat boiler to be used under the Scheme was installed in 2005.

Warm Front Scheme

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many sub-contracts Eaga has let to sub-contractors for installing Ravenheat boilers under the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: Ravenheat boilers are not an approved item under this phase of the Scheme (from 21 May 2005), though may be installed as an ad hoc measure when they are requested by the person applying and judged to be the most suitable option for the property. The last time a request for a Ravenheat boiler was accepted was in 2005: the boiler was installed with no reported faults.

Warm Front Scheme

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of Ravenheat boilers installed under the Warm Front scheme which have developed a fault within 12 months of installation.

Joan Ruddock: The only Ravenheat boiler to be used under this phase of the Scheme (beginning 21 May 2005) was installed in 2005 and there are no reported faults. Ravenheat boilers are not an approved Warm Front item and will only be installed, as in this case, where requested by the client and adjudged to be the best option for the household.

Warm Front Scheme: Contracts

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value is of Warm Front contracts held by  (a) Iguana and  (b) Lionheart; and how many installations each company has completed under those contracts.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 24 March 2009
	The total number of installations carried out by each company, together with the monetary value of that work, is detailed in the following table. This figure is based on analysis from the present phase of the scheme and runs from June 2005 to March 2009.
	
		
			   Installations completed June 2005 to March 2009  Value () 
			 Eaga Heat (formerly Iguana) 108,925 149,688,758.00 
			 Lionheart 3,523 4,566,933

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to answer Question 252896, tabled by the hon. Member for Winchester on 26 January 2009, on the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: I responded to question 252896 on 2 April 2009 and apologise for the delay, which was due to departmental reorganisation.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to answer question 248137, tabled on 14 January 2009, on power cuts in Stroud constituency.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 941W.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent progress the House of Commons has made towards the Government's target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of the Government Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: While the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets do not apply to Parliament, the House has been working to a similar target: to reduce energy consumption by 15 per cent. by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000.
	Progress towards this target has been very disappointing. It is estimated that in 2007-08 the energy consumption per square metre for the parliamentary estate was 6 per cent. greater than in 1999-2000, though the reliability of the baseline information cannot be assured. While this increase is at least in part explained by increased usage of the estate, it is recognised that significant changes are required if we are to meet our commitment to improved environmental sustainability.
	The care of the environment has been given high priority within the corporate business plan for 2009-10, and the resources allocated to this area of activity have been increased. A new, senior member of the Parliamentary Estate Directorate staff has recently been appointed to lead a reconfigured and strengthened Fire, Safety, and Environment team. A fresh set of co-ordinated environmental initiatives are in preparation, together with a communications plan to ensure the necessary engagement and support of Members and staff. A new environmental policy statement and challenging, yet realistic, environmental objectives will be proposed to the Commission later this year.
	Meanwhile, practical steps have been taken to increase energy efficiency. The House Service has, in the last 12 months, reconfigured building management systems; installed new remote energy meters, kitchen ventilation and lighting controls, energy efficient lighting and movement sensors; developed design standards for energy consuming services and conducted building energy surveys. While it will take some time for these arrangements to have full impact, they should help to achieve a marked reduction in our energy consumption.

Parliament: Security

John Hayes: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many staff of hon. Members hold parliamentary passes; and how many such passholders are non-UK nationals.

Nick Harvey: As at 2 April 2009, in the House of Commons there were 1,657 valid passes for Members' staff. Of these, there were 123 passholders whose nationality is recorded as other than British. There are also 79 passholders of dual nationality where British forms part of the nationality.

OLYMPICS

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her latest estimate is of capital expenditure of the Government Olympic Office in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Although the Government Olympic Executive does not undertake capital expenditure on its own behalf, it authorises the payment of capital grant-in-aid to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The latest estimates of the call on capital grant-in-aid for the four years 2008-09 to 2011-12 amount to:
	
		
			million 
			 2008-09 958 
			 2009-10 1148 
			 2010-11 1095 
			 2011-12 600 
		
	
	These estimates, totalling 3,801 million, are well within the funding provision for capital grant to the ODA over the same period i.e. 4,456 million.
	The ODA also receives funding from the Olympic Lottery Distributor, the Greater London Authority and the London Development Agency. Details of contributions can be found in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual ReportJanuary 2009.
	The capital grant-in-aid issued to the ODA by DCMS is funded by contributions from the Exchequer and from the Departments for Communities and Local Government and for Transport.
	As I said in the annual report referred to above: our financial report shows that with a continued, disciplined search for savings and a sensible use of the contingency funds set aside to manage risks, we remain within budget despite the economic downturn. It will not be exceeded.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much she has spent on media training in each year since her post was created; how many sessions have been provided; and which organisation provided such training.

Tessa Jowell: Nothing has been spent on media training since this post was created.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the monetary value was of contracts awarded to organisations in each region through the CompeteFor website at the latest date for which figures are available.

Tessa Jowell: To date the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded 3.5 billion worth of contracts to over 880 businesses, and 45 per cent. of the ODA's direct suppliers are based outside of London.
	Procurement for the games is still at a relatively early stage, with the majority of the indirect, supply chain contracts not awarded directly by the ODA yet to become available. Procurement from the ODA's major contracts will flow down and create opportunities in their supply chains, and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) procurement will begin to come on stream more fully this year, creating more opportunities for businesses to get involved.
	CompeteFor was established as the mechanism by which contractors in London 2012's supply chains could open up their supply chains further than any other games previously, and give businesses across the country access to them, and any support they need to win them.
	The vast majority of contracts advertised through CompeteFor will not be public procurements, but supply chain opportunities with London 2012's sub-contractors: as such we cannot control to whom they award contracts, or the location of these businesses.
	The unique value of CompeteFor is also that it sign posts businesses to business support services, not only making them better able to compete for contracts in London 2012's supply chains but the wider 150 billion annual public procurement spend.
	In addition, some of the ODA's contractors are now beginning to place their some their 'non-Olympic' opportunities on to the system, which offers the potential to open supply chains still further.
	The London Development Agency encourages CompeteFor contracting businesses to disclose the value of contracts they award, but businesses have a legal right to refuse to do so. Of the 140 contracts that have now been awarded to suppliers registered on CompeteFor, 11 contractors have chosen not to disclose contract values. The figures given in the table consequently reflect the contract values that have been disclosed. Where values have not been disclosed this is indicated. In this table, the region is determined by the registered address of the company and in the case of large contractors in particular this may not necessarily reflect which region captures the values of contracts.
	To date, over 19 million worth of contracts have been awarded to suppliers registered on CompeteFor across the UK. To 13 March 2009, just over 2,220 contracts had been placed on CompeteFor, with 292 opportunities posted on in the first two weeks of February alone. Over 1,800 of these are tenders which are currently in progress, and a good number are also in the pipeline, so this represents a limited proportion of the contracts that will be awarded.
	CompeteFor has now been in operation for just over a year and my officials will be undertaking a review of its performance to date.
	
		
			  Region  Number of contracts with undisclosed values  Value () 
			 Northern Ireland  0 
			 Wales  0 
			 North East  0 
			 Scotland  10,000 
			 South West Plus 2 contracts with undisclosed values 24,500 
			 North West  40,000 
			 Yorkshire  66,000 
			 East of England Plus 3 contracts with undisclosed values 835,700 
			 East Midlands  873,138 
			 South East  2,079,780 
			 West Midlands Plus 1 contract with undisclosed values 7,173,000 
			 London Plus 5 contracts with undisclosed values 8,705,185 
		
	
	Because many companies work with regular suppliers, it is estimated that direct contractors will have around 80 per cent. of their supply chains already in place when they begin work on the project. Although these contracts will not appear on CompeteFor, UK businesses will stand to benefit. Where supply chains are not already in place, contractors are being encouraged to place as many as possible of their unallocated contract opportunities on CompeteFor, the London 2012 brokerage service launched in January 2008.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Jamie Reed: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans there are to establish competitor training facilities for the London 2012 Olympics in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency.

Tessa Jowell: The North West region has 68 facilities in the Pre Games Training Camp Guide produced by London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for the London 2012 Olympics, three of these designated training facilities are in Cumbria located in Barrow, Carlisle and Kendal.
	There are currently no pre Games training camps listed in the LOCOG guide that are in my hon. Friend's constituency of Copeland.

Olympic Games 2012: Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 815W, on Olympic Games 2012: Scotland, what the monetary value is of the 13 contracts awarded by the Olympic Delivery Authority to firms based in Scotland.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) total spend to date with the 13 businesses registered in Scotland that it has directly awarded contracts to is approximately 1.8 million. These contracts do not include those awarded to sub-contractors. For example, only this week the ODA announced that work is now under way to lift the roof of the London 2012 Aquatics Centre, the steel for which is being rolled in Motherwell and two locations in England.
	The ODA is currently undertaking research into businesses winning sub-contracts in its supply chains, with initial results due in the coming weeks.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department only holds information for the current year. My Department has 89 laptops in use. One is allocated to a Minister, 88 are with civil servants and none are allocated to the special advisers. The cost to the public purse is approximately 1,500 per laptop.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1406W, on the economic situation, what expenditure his Department incurred under each budget heading in respect of its Creative Economy Programme Ministerial Steering Board meeting held in December 2008.

Andy Burnham: The only cost for the Creative Economy Programme's Ministerial Steering Board in December 2008 was for refreshments. This cost was 88.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on  (a) the purchase of and  (b) bills for (i) BlackBerrys and (ii) other mobile telephones for (A) Ministers, (B) special advisers and (C) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has incurred costs as follows:
	
		
			   
			   2006  2007  2008  2009 
			  Blackberrys 
			 Device 3,601.61 5,744.39 7,258.67 1,564.04 
			 Bill 43,852.91 57,504.07 65,673.11 5,789.81 
			  
			  Mobile phones 
			 Device 1,213.90 2,113.29 1,650.47 209.15 
			 Bill 35,006.47 31,996.02 17,823.58 2,360.72 
		
	
	We do not hold the information regarding the amount spent on individuals.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) BlackBerrys and  (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department only holds information for the current year. My Department has 116 BlackBerrys and 60 mobile telephones. A breakdown of allocation is as follows:
	
		
			   Ministers  Special advisers  Civil servants 
			 Blackberrys 2 4 110 
			 Mobile phones 1 0 59

Gambling

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have been  (a) extradited and  (b) prosecuted as a result of the Gambling Commission's mystery shopping pilots in those countries which appear on his Department's White List of countries permitted to advertise gambling services in the UK in the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been no extraditions or prosecutions in the last three years as a result of the Gambling Commission's mystery shopping pilots in those countries which appear on my Department's White List of countries permitted to advertise gambling services in the UK. The pilots took place before the Gambling Act 2005 came fully into effect. In the event of the Commission's rolling mystery shopping programme revealing any weaknesses in operators from such jurisdictions, the Commission would work with the regulator there to investigate and take the appropriate action.

Licensing Laws: Public Consultation

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance his Department plans to issue to unitary authorities created under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 on consulting on licensing policies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS has no plans to lay revised guidance under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 before Parliament in connection with this issue. However, the Department has provided a steer to councils moving to unitary status, on the amalgamation of licensing policies. Where the affected councils have already consulted on and adopted identical policies in preparation for the move to a unitary authority, and these existing, identical policies will be consolidated into a single document, without any material changes, then DCMS advises that there will be no need to consult. However, councils are free to decide to inform relevant stakeholders.
	Where substantial changes are made to identical policies before amalgamation or where existing policies are not identical, consultation would be required on the proposed single policy. In such instances, the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) would encourage councils to undertake a full consultation, in line with the Government's code of practice on consultation. DCMS will continue to work with LACORS to respond to any licensing authority queries that may arise.

Parks: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 254W, on parks: Greater London, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Royal Parks Agency's  (a) most recent research on visitor profiles and  (b) 2006 in-depth study on park usage; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Royal Parks (TRP) advise that these reports are available on their website at:
	http://www.royalparks.org.uk/about/publications/index.cfm#demographic_profile_2006
	Copies of these reports will be deposited in the Libraries.

Public Expenditure

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department  (a) allocated and  (b) spent on (i) sport, (ii) the arts and (iii) heritage in each year since 1997, expressed in 2008-09 prices.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 13 March 2009
	 It is my Department's policy to publish details of funding spent, as opposed to funding allocated, to avoid confusion or potential double counting where end year flexibility has been applied or where funds have been transferred in year. The amount of Exchequer funding spent by DCMS and its NDPBs on arts, sport and heritage since 1997, at 2007-08 prices, is as follows:
	
		
			   million in 2007-08 prices 
			   Arts spend including central DCMS spend  Sports spend including central DCMS spend  Heritage spend including Royal Parks and central DCMS spend 
			 1997-98 251.3 64.1 228.0 
			 1998-99 249.2 61.6 210.2 
			 1999-2000 281.0 63.1 219.0 
			 2000-01 287.9 63.4 211.7 
			 2001-02 297.9 75.2 217.5 
			 2002-03 344.2 125.3 211.1 
			 2003-04 408.0 87.6 425.6 
			 2004-05 430.0 120.4 211.3 
			 2005-06 434.0 124.2 207.3 
			 2006-07 (1)442.9 174.4 (2)214.1 
			 2007-08 425.9 193.9 211.7 
			 (1) In 2006-07, Arts spend received an additional 5 million allocated in the 2004 spending review. Without applying the deflator or the additional allocation, the figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are 425.4 million and 425.9 million respectively. (2) In 2006-07, English Heritage drew down 7.8 million capital end year flexibility for its relocation expenses compared with 1.8 million in 2007-08. 
		
	
	HM Treasury issues the deflator tables and does not publish 2008-09 figures until the tables are issued by the Office for National Statistics, usually in August. Therefore, the most up to date expression of DCMS's spend is in 2007-08 prices.

Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what professional sporting events with  (a) male and  (b) female participants he has attended in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Andy Burnham: The information is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Professional sporting events with male participants  Professional sporting events with female participants 
			 6 April 2008 FA Semi Cup Final  
			 21 May 2008 Champions League Final  
			 6 July 2008 Wimbledon Final  
			 11 July 2008 England versus South Africa cricket  
			 19 August 2008 (Beijing Olympics) Triathlon and Madison Final Track cycling and Athletics 
			 20 August 2008 (Beijing Olympics) Athletics 10 km Marathon Swimming, Diving and 400 m Hurdles 
			 21 August 2008 (Beijing Olympics) BMX final and Triple Jump BMX final 
			 22 August 2008 (Beijing Olympics) Canoeing and Athletics Modern Pentathlon, Swimming, Hockey and Athletics 
			 23 August 2008 (Beijing Olympics) Diving, Football, and Athletics Athletics 
			 24 August 2008 (Beijing Olympics) Boxing  
			 30 August 2008 Rugby League Challenge Cup  
			 29 March 2009 Everton Tigers versus Newcastle Eagles basketball

Swimming: Elderly

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of those over the age of 60 years who have participated in his Department's free swimming initiative to date;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to increase the levels of exercise undertaken by those over the age of 60;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of his Department's free swimming initiatives.

Andy Burnham: From 1 April this year the Government's Free Swimming programme launched, enabling around 10 million people in England aged 60 or over will be able to swim for free in participating pools. We will be closely monitoring the impact of the scheme on levels of participation.
	Free swimming will be delivered by nearly 300 local authorities in England. We have therefore provided participating local authorities with a branding and marketing toolkit to help them promote the programme locally. We will also continue to work with other Government Departments and stakeholders to promote the programme and help get more people swimming more often.

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme

Richard Caborn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many scholars there are in the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) in each region; and how many TASS scholars there are in  (a) higher and  (b) further education;
	(2)  to which sports the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) applies; and how many TASS scholars are involved in each sport.

Andy Burnham: The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) have advised that the following awards have been made:
	
		
			  Sport  Awards 
			 Cricket 19 
			 Football 40 
			 Golf 39 
			 Netball 40 
			 Rugby League 25 
			 Rugby Union 40 
			 Squash 28 
			 Waterskiing 25 
			 Orienteering 28 
			 Bobsleigh 6 
			 Ice Hockey 33 
			 Skeleton 19 
			 Figure Skating 6 
			 Short Track 16 
			 Snowsport 25 
			 Paralympic/Disability (all) 105 
			 Winter Olympic/Paralympic 2012 35 
			 Aquatics 18 
			 Badminton 20 
			 Canoe 22 
			 Equestrian 24 
			 Fencing 20 
			 Hockey 24 
			 Judo 23 
			 Modern Pent 10 
			 Rowing 21 
			 Sailing 24 
			 Triathlon 21 
			 Volleyball 26 
			 Individual Route 26 
			  Notes: 1. Paralympic/disability (all) includes Swimming, Basketball, Skiing, Boccia, Fencing, Table Tennis, Tennis, Cricket, Powerlifting, Goalball, Football, Shooting and Equestrian. 2. Winter Olympic/Paralympic 2012 includes Figure Skating, Snowsports, Skeleton, Bobsleigh, Disability Skiing and Short Track. 3. Aquatics includes Diving, Synchro and Swimming. 4. Individual route includes Tennis, Table Tennis, Basketball, Gymnastics and Shooting. 
		
	
	TASS have advised they do not record information by regional or educational split and the information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Television: Waste Disposal

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking on the disposal of television sets which are not ready for the digital switchover; and what expenditure has been incurred on such steps to date.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	Digital switchover does not require disposal of any equipment, as an existing analogue television can normally be upgraded by adding a digital set-top box. There is some evidence from switchover in the Selkirk transmitter area in October/November 2008 that households took the opportunity to dispose of old equipment. However there are no reports from local authority recycling points that the levels of equipment disposed of caused any difficulty.
	Television sets disposed of following digital switchover will be subject to regulations implementing the EU waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive. The directive requires producers, or those acting on their behalf, to set up systems for treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE.
	There are currently no estimates of expenditure incurred to date on steps taken in this area. Industry has estimated that it costs around 3 to 5 per unit to dispose a standard television set.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equal Pay

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will issue guidance to employers on the provision of information to newly-appointed staff on  (a) their company's gender pay gap and  (b) their company's gender pay gap at the grade to which the new employee has been appointed.

Maria Eagle: In our response to consultation on the Equality Bill, we said that we would review progress on transparency and its contribution to the achievement of equality outcomes, and in the light of this, consider over the next five years, using existing legislation for greater transparency in company reporting on equality. This process is ongoing.
	In addition, the forthcoming Equality Bill will ban secrecy clauses which prevent people discussing their own pay. The new single public sector equality duty will make our public bodies more transparent, and we want public bodies to report on important equality areas such as gender pay.
	The guidance that employers might need as a result of these measures will need to be considered in due course.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and who provided the training.

Tom Watson: Training is provided to Ministers as necessary in order to carry out their duties effectively under the Ministerial Code.

TREASURY

Bank Services: Motor Vehicles

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent reports he has received on banks withdrawing lending from businesses involved with the automotive industry.

Ian Pearson: Ministers and officials have regular meetings with banks and other financial institutions on a range of issues, including lending to businesses.
	The Bank of England publishes statistics relating to lending, including lending to businesses, which are available at:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/index.htm.

Banks: Finance

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to consolidate the expenditure from the public purse on RBS and Lloyds Banking Group on the Government's balance sheet in accordance with international accounting standards.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 26 March 2009
	 The Treasury's 2008-09 resource accounts will be prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Manual ('FReM'). Spending, be it capital or resource, on the various financial stability interventions will be included in those accounts.
	International Financial Reporting Standards will be adopted in 2009-10, under the technical accounting guidance in the International Financial Reporting Manual ('IFReM').

Banks: Finance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent employees of HM Revenue and Customs are working with  (a) Lloyds Banking Group and  (b) RBS.

Ian Pearson: HMRC employees may be seconded to work in an external organisation. No HMRC employees are currently seconded to  (a) Lloyds Banking Group or  (b) RBS.

Banks: Regulation

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures to amend the regulatory regime applying to  (a) the banking sector and  (b) banks which have received public money he is considering to minimise the risk of future failures in the sector.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 3 February 2009
	 The Banking Act, which received Royal Assent on 12 February, provides new powers for the authorities to deal with failing banks, as well as providing for improved oversight and compensation arrangements.
	The Government continue to assess future regulatory requirements for banking supervision. At the Chancellor's request, Lord Turner, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, is reviewing financial services regulation in the UK. The Turner Review has now been published and can be accessed through the following link:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/other/turner_review.pdf
	The UK also continues to work closely with international partners. The UK, as President of the G20, will play a leading role in determining a global response to the challenges facing the banking sector.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions  (a) he,  (b) his Ministers and  (c) his officials have had with representatives of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on funding allocations for capital building projects in further education colleges to be made in the current spending review period.

Yvette Cooper: The Treasury has regular discussions with other Government Departments, including the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, on a wide range of public expenditure and policy issues, including the further education college capital programme.

Business: Government Assistance

Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the  (a) effect on tax revenue of and  (b) number of employees affected by the introduction of the requirement that a company have fewer than 250 employees in order to grant options under the Enterprise Management Incentive scheme.

Ian Pearson: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Revenue Effect
	The estimate published in Budget 2008 included another measure.
	At the time of the 2008 Budget the Exchequer yield from the employee restriction element of the Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme was estimated as:
	
		
			   Revenue impact of the 250 employee limit to EMIs ( million) 
			 2008-09 0 
			 2009-10 10 
			 2010-11 20 
		
	
	 (b) T he Number of Employees Affected
	The change in the rules did not affect employees to whom options had already been granted. As a result of the change, around 4,000 employees would no longer qualify for EMIs in the first year.

Child Care Tax Credit

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the level of take-up of the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit.

Stephen Timms: Take-up rate estimates for the child care element are not available.
	However, estimates of the number of in-work families benefiting from the child care element of working tax credit, at selected dates, are published in Table 4.4 of the HMRC publication 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics' for each year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress his Department has made towards its target for the energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks) on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 330W.
	The Treasury will provide an update on progress in its annual departmental report for 2008-09 later this year.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of his Department's capital expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's forecast of capital spending within departmental expenditure limits (DEL) in 2008-09 is 5 million. Details of the Department's capital DEL budgets for forward years were shown in Table A5 of the 2007-08 Annual Report, Cm 7408, available from
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/dep_perf_reports_index.htm

Government Departments: Procurement

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has issued to Government Departments on the advertisement of procurement contracts on the website for www.supply2.gov.uk; and which  (a) Departments and  (b) agencies use the website.

Ian Pearson: BERR and HMT Ministers wrote jointly to all Departments in April 2008 to reiterate the Government's commitment to advertise procurement opportunities below the EU procurement thresholds on the www.supply2.gov.uk site. An event for departmental procurement officials in June 2008 was also held to raise awareness.
	The following Departments and agencies currently advertise opportunities directly on to the portal:
	Cabinet Office
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Home Office/Ministry of Justice
	Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
	Department for Transport
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Crown Prosecution Service
	The site also contains contract opportunities from other Departments and bodies by means of research and data feeds from other sites including the defence and health care sectors.

Government Securities

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the quantity of  (a) index-linked and  (b) conventional gilts planned to be auctioned by the Debt Management Office (DMO) in each of the next 12 months; what discussions he has had with the DMO on such auctions; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: In 2009-10 the Government plan to issue 127.2 and 20.7 billion in conventional and index-linked gilts respectively. Further details of the Government's provisional financing plans can be found in the provisional debt management report 2009-10. HM Treasury and the Debt Management Office worked together in the formulation of these plans, following usual practice. In line with updated fiscal forecast due to be published in Budget 2009, new issuance plans will be presented in the debt and reserves management report 2009-10 to be published alongside the Budget.

Government Securities

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received from auction of  (a) index-linked and  (b) conventional gilts by the Debt Management Office in each of the last 12 months.

Ian Pearson: The Debt Management Office raised 146.5 billion (cash) through 58 auctions and eight mini-tenders in 2008-09. This total was split between 126.7 and 19.7 billion in conventional and index-linked gilts respectively. The monthly breakdown is provided in the following table:
	
		
			million 
			   Conventional  Index-linked 
			 April 2008 6,026 2,001 
			 May 2008 2,516 1,032 
			 June 2008 5,561 1,961 
			 July 2008 8,423 2,173 
			 August 2008 2,222 1,149 
			 September 2008 8,158 639 
			 October 2008 18,726 2,259 
			 November 2008 18,143 1022 
			 December 2008 9,575 1,518 
			 January 2009 15,051 1,828 
			 February 2009 16,482 2,204 
			 March 2009 15,531 2,252

Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander: Isle of Man

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to relax the restriction on assets held by Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander (Isle of Man) to allow that institution to make further refunds to its UK depositors.

Ian Pearson: Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander, Isle of Man, (KSF IoM) is not a subsidiary of Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander in the UK (KSF UK), but of the Icelandic parent company. KSF IoM is however a creditor of KSF UK.
	KSF IoM is currently in provisional liquidation. KSF UK is in administration and there is a moratorium in place on the enforcement of all creditor claims. It is for the administrators of KSF UK in the first instance to determine whether it is appropriate to make a payment to any creditor. Under UK insolvency law, KSF IoM ranks like any other creditor of KSF.
	Deposits with KSF IoM will be subject to the Isle of Man deposit compensation scheme. This scheme is administered by the Isle of Man authorities.

Lloyds TSB

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of financial liability which has been assumed by the Exchequer as a result of the recent Lloyds TSB rescue package; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the package for the Government's policy on moral hazard.

Ian Pearson: Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds) announced on 7 March their intention to participate in the asset protection scheme. Lloyds intends to protect 260 billion of eligible assets. Lloyds will pay a participation fee of 15.6 billion to the Treasury in capital.
	The agreement will mean that in the event of a loss, Lloyds will bear a first loss amount after existing impairments of up to 25 billion. Thereafter, losses will be borne 90 per cent. by the Treasury and 10 per cent. by Lloyds.
	The long-term impact on the public finances will be determined not by the value of the assets covered but by any net loss once fees, first losses, and recoveries are taken into account. It is impossible to set out costs for certain at this point. The scheme is designed in part to provide protection for assets that the market cannot value. HMT will keep 90 per cent. of recoveries until all the payments made by HMT have been reimbursed. The Government's investments will be held for no longer than is necessary to ensure stability and protect taxpayer interests.
	Given the particular circumstances and the terms of Lloyds' participation in the APS the Government are content that they do not have any adverse implications moral hazard.

Monetary Policy

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to adjust the level of the supply of money he plans for the next 12 months; what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on this since January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Decisions on the value of assets to be purchased using the creation of central bank reserves are a matter for the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. In a letter to the Governor of the Bank of England on 3 March 2009, the Chancellor authorised up to 150 billion of purchases: this is the maximum limit within which the MPC will determine the scale of its purchases each month.

Motor Vehicles: Government Assistance

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the merits of tax flexibility to assist companies in the automotive sector in dealing with the effects of the economic downturn.

Stephen Timms: As part of a substantial package of support to help businesses deal with the effects of the economic downturn, the Chancellor announced in PBR 2008 that HMRC had introduced a new Business Payment Support Service. Businesses, across all parts of the economy, in temporary financial difficulty can spread their HMRC tax bill over a timetable they can afford. This has already helped over 4,900 firms in the automotive industry.
	The Government have also announced that the Automotive Assistance Programme is now open for business. A seminar was held on 11 March to inform companies, banks and industry representatives about applying for help.
	Further, following demand from the automotive sector for support under the Train to Gain scheme, the budget of 65 million has been increased substantially up to 100 million.
	Automotive firms are also eligible for support from other Government programmes, including initiatives promoting bank lending to small and medium companies.

National Insurance Contributions

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reasons there is a six year limit for contributions to National Insurance shortfalls in relation to the state pension;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the merits of  (a) extending and  (b) abolishing the deadlines for contributions to National Insurance shortfalls in relation to the state pension.

Stephen Timms: The National Insurance system operates on a pay as you go basis with the contributions that people pay now funding contributory benefits currently in payment and helping to fund the NHS. There are time limits for paying all Classes of contributions including Class 3 contributions. These are intended to prevent contributors from delaying payment of their contributions until they come to make their claims for benefit or pension entitlement.
	The Government believe that the time limits for paying Class 3 contributions provide sufficient flexibility, and has no further plans to change them. The Government introduced changes in the Pensions Act 2008 to allow people, who reach State Pension age between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2015 and already have 20 qualifying years, the opportunity to pay up to an additional six years of Class 3 contributions outside the most recent six tax years.
	If the limits were to be extended or abolished the weekly rate of Class 3 contributions would have to be increased substantially as contributors could delay making payment until shortly before they started drawing their state pension.

Public Expenditure Surveys

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of each Public Expenditure Survey paper issued in 2008.

Yvette Cooper: A copy of each Public Expenditure Survey paper issued in 2008 has been placed in the Library.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the projected expenditure on public sector pensions shown in table 4.1 of the Long-term Public Finance Report he expects will be financed from employee contributions.

Yvette Cooper: As with all defined benefit pension schemes, regular actuarial valuations ensure that employees and employers pay a contribution rate appropriate to the level of expected benefits. Following Government reforms, major schemes have capped the employer contributions which will control taxpayers exposure to future cost pressures. In terms of financing the current pensions in payment, as with all Pay-As-You-Go schemes, current employee contributions are used to finance these pensions. The assumptions used in producing table 4.1 will be published in due course.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which public sector pension schemes'  (a) liabilities are included in box 4.3 and  (b) expenditure is included in the projections in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1911W, the same public service occupational pension schemes are used in producing box 4.3 and table 4.1 of the Long Term Public Finance Report 2008

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the  (a) start and  (b) end date of the 50-year period is over which he estimated that reforms to the Civil Service, NHS and teachers' pension schemes would save 13 billion;
	(2)  what discount rate was used to estimate the net present value of savings from reforms to the Civil Service, NHS and teachers' pension schemes;
	(3)  if he will estimate the net present value of savings made by reforms to  (a) the Police Pension Scheme,  (b) the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and  (c) the Firefighters' Pension Scheme on the same basis as he estimated that reforms to the Civil Service, NHS and teachers' pension schemes would save 13 billion over 50 years;
	(4)  with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil of 31 October 2006,  Official Report, column 317W, on public sector pensions, how he calculated the net present value of savings over a 50-year period without first estimating the savings that would be achieved in each year;
	(5)  whether his estimate that reforms to the Civil Service, NHS and teachers' pension schemes would deliver savings with a net present value of 13 billion over 50 years is expressed in 2008 prices;
	(6)  what assumptions he has made about the dates of commencement of reforms to the Civil Service, NHS and teachers' pension schemes; when he made his estimate that such reforms would save 13 billion over a 50-year period; and if he will revise his estimate on the basis of the dates on which the reforms took effect;
	(7)  what account his estimate of a 13 billion saving from reforms to the Civil Service, NHS and teachers' pension schemes takes of  (a) the net present value of cashflow savings on benefits paid out net of employee contributions paid in during the 50-year period and  (b) the net present value of the reduction in the value of benefits accrued relative to employee contributions paid during the 50-year period; what other factors his estimate takes into account; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: To assist discussions of modernisation reforms to the pension schemes for the NHS, teachers and civil service in 2005, an indicative estimate of 13 billion was calculated as the potential net saving in employer costs for these three schemes over a 50-year period from 2006. The estimates were based on approximate methodologies to indicate the savings that might result from the proposals then under discussion and were heavily rounded to allow for factors such as the possibility of a few years variation in start dates.
	The estimate was calculated as at 2005, using 2005-06 prices, to show the amount of employer contribution savings over a 50-year period, converted to a capitalised value. This reflected savings in the value of benefits built up over the 50-year period, not cashflow savings on benefits paid out over that period. The estimate took into account expected membership of the pension schemes and a net discount rate of 3.5 per cent. per annum in excess of prices.
	The subsequent packages that were actually introduced included further reforms, such as cost sharing and cost capping mechanisms, to limit employer costs. The 13 billion calculations are now obsolete and revised estimates of the capitalised savings and extensions of the estimates to other schemes on the assumptions used in 2005 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Instead, the significant level of savings that are already being delivered by the scheme reforms were described in my answer to the hon. Member of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1909W.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what changes to the number of active members in  (a) the NHS Pension Scheme,  (b) the Teachers' Pension Scheme,  (c) the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme,  (d) the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and  (e) the Police Pension Scheme are assumed to take place over the projection period shown in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(2)  what assumed mortality rates for members of public sector pension schemes were used to calculate the figures in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report; and whether these differ from the assumed rates underpinning population projections;
	(3)  what average life expectancy was assumed for  (a) male and  (b) female members of the (i) NHS Pension Scheme, (ii) Teachers' Pension Scheme, (iii) Principal Civil Servants Pension Scheme and (iv) Armed Forces Pension Scheme aged 65 in (A) 2007, (B) 2017, (C) 2027, (D) 2037, (E) 2047 and (F) 2057 in calculating the figures in table 4.1 of the March 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(4)  what average life expectancy was assumed for  (a) male and  (b) female members of the Police Pension Scheme aged 65 in (i) 2007, (ii) 2017, (iii) 2027, (iv) 2037, (v) 2047 and (vi) 2057 when calculating the figures in table 4.1 of the March 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(5)  what differences there are between the assumptions on in-service mortality for members of public sector pension schemes underpinning the figures in table 5.1 of the 2006 Long-term Public Finance Report and those underpinning the figures in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(6)  how many withdrawals per 10,000 members of staff were assumed for  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) 25, (ii) 30, (iii) 35, (iv) 40, (v) 45, (vi) 50, (vii) 55 and (viii) 60 in compiling table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report; and whether the same assumptions were used for members of each pension scheme;
	(7)  what assumption on salary inflation underpins the figures in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(8)  what assumption on salary progression above salary inflation for  (a) males and  (b) females underpins the estimates of public sector pension costs in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report; and whether different assumptions were used in respect of members of different pension schemes;
	(9)  what changes were made to the assumed new entrant profiles for  (a) the NHS Pension Scheme,  (b) the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme,  (c) the Teachers' Pension Scheme,  (d) the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and  (e) the Police Pension Scheme, taking account of (i) age, (ii) sex and (iii) salary at recruitment affecting the assumptions underpinning the projected public service pension costs in table 5.1 of the 2006 Long-term Public Finance Report and table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(10)  what assumed rates of ill-health retirement for  (a) males and  (b) females at ages (i) 25, (ii) 30, (iii) 35, (iv) 40, (v) 45, (vi) 50, (vii) 55 and (viii) 60 underpin projections for expenditure on public sector pensions in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(11)  what assumptions were made about  (a) the terms on which members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme will be able to commute pension for tax-free cash,  (b) the proportion who take the maximum cash available and  (c) the extent to which other members use commutation options for the projected expenditure on public sector pensions detailed in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(12)  whether the age at retirement assumptions underpinning the projected public sector pension costs in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-Term Public Finance Report are the same as those underpinning table 5.1 of the 2006 Long-Term Public Finance Report;
	(13)  whether the earnings growth assumptions used to calculate the public service pension costs shown in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report are the same as those underpinning the equivalent figures in the 2006 Long-term Public Finance Report;
	(14)  whether assumptions about rates of ill-health retirement amongst members of public service pension schemes underpinning table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-Term Public Finance Report are the same as those underpinning table 5.1 of the 2006 Long-Term Public Finance Report;
	(15)  whether the figures in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-Term Public Finance Report assume that members of public sector pension schemes who retire owing to ill-health experience the same mortality rates as other members;
	(16)  what updates to the analysis contained in the 2006 cashflow projections for unfunded public service pension schemes he commissioned from  (a) the Government Actuary's Department and  (b) other sources to inform the March 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each update;
	(17)  what assumptions about the rates of withdrawal from service for members of unfunded public sector pension schemes were made in respect of  (a) the 2006 Long-term Public Finance Report and  (b) the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1912W. We expect that the Government Actuary's Department will publish this paper alongside the Long Term Public Finance report later this year.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the projected public expenditure on public service pensions shown in table 4.1 of the 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report to show expenditure attributable to  (a) benefits already accrued and  (b) future benefits on the same basis as in box 5.1 of the 2006 Long-term Public Finance Report.

Yvette Cooper: This answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what allowance was made for the implementation of Agenda for Change and the new contracts for GPs and hospital consultants when assuming rates of salary progression in order to calculate the figures in table 4.1 of the Long-term Public Finance Report.

Yvette Cooper: The assumed rates of salary progression used to calculate the figures in table 4.1 of the Long-Term Public Finance Report were based on the experience of members of public service pension schemes, as reported in the actuarial valuations of the schemes. The Agenda for Change and GP contracts had not been fully implemented at the time of the NHS Pension Scheme valuation as at 31 March 2004 (although an allowance for the effects of pay modernisation was made), which was the latest valuation available for setting these assumptions.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the mortality rates assumed to apply to existing active, deferred and pension members of public sector pension schemes in order to calculate the figures in table 4.1 of the Long-term Public Finance Report are the same as those used to estimate the stock of liabilities in box 4.3.

Yvette Cooper: The estimate of the stock of liabilities of the unfunded public service pension schemes in box 4.3 is based on the individual public service pension scheme resource accounts; the mortality rates used are set with regard to the experience of the relevant scheme. The spending projections shown in table 4.1 are based on average assumptions consistent with other spending projections in the Long Term Public Finance Report 2008.

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions were made about  (a) the proportion of members in public sector pension schemes who are in relationships that could potentially give rise to a survivor's pension and  (b) the average age difference between pension scheme members and their potential survivors in compiling the figures in table 4.1 of the March 2008 Long-term Public Finance Report.

Yvette Cooper: The assumptions about the proportion of members in public service pension schemes who are in relationships that give rise to a survivor's pension and the average age difference between pension scheme members and their potential survivors used in compiling the figures in table 4.1 of the March 2008 Long-Term Public Finance Report were based on the experience of the most significant work groups within the larger schemes.

Small Businesses: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to improve access for businesses in the north east to the Small Business Finance Scheme.

Ian Pearson: Businesses across the UK have access to comprehensive range of support through Real Help Now, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme and the Capital for Enterprise Fund. These schemes can be accessed through
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp.
	SMEs in my hon. Friend's constituency may wish to be aware that the regional development agency One NorthEast has unveiled a 10 million package of support to help regional businesses through current economic difficulties, which is being delivered via Business Link in the North East.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what revenue has accrued to the Exchequer from stamp duty land tax receipts in each year since 1997 at 2008-09 prices;
	(2)  what revenue has accrued to the Exchequer from stamp duty land tax receipts in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: Stamp duty receipts, covering receipts from stamp duty land tax and stamp taxes on share transactions, are given in the following table at 2008 prices, for each calendar year since 1997:
	
		
			   Receipts ( million)( 1) 
			 1997 4,190 
			 1998 5,650 
			 1999 7,460 
			 2000 10,280 
			 2001 8,840 
			 2002 8,680 
			 2003 8,220 
			 2004 9,820 
			 2005 10,710 
			 2006 15,420 
			 2007 13,710 
			 2008 9,490 
			 (1) Revalued to 2008 prices using the GDP deflator 
		
	
	Stamp duty receipts for the last four quarters for which information has been published is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/table1-3.pdf

Taxation: Business

Ian Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines have been imposed on small and medium-sized companies for late payment of  (a) value added tax and  (b) corporation tax in the last (i) six and (ii) 12 months.

Stephen Timms: There is, currently, no penalty for late payment of corporation tax. HM Revenue and Customs issued the following number of VAT default surcharges in the last six and 12 month periods for which information is available.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1 January to 31 December 2008 419,521 
			 1 July to 31 December 2008 230,237 
		
	
	Information is not readily available on VAT default surcharges issued to businesses of different size and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

VAT

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 263W, on VAT, what estimate he has made of the financial effect on  (a) the Exchequer and  (b) households,  (c) businesses and  (d) other groups of the temporary reduction in value added tax combined with increases in alcohol and tobacco duty.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the revenue impact on the Exchequer from changes to VAT, alcohol duties and tobacco duties as announced at pre-Budget report 2008 are published in table B5 of the pre-Budget report 2008.
	It is estimated that 70 per cent. of the impact from the VAT rate change is accounted for by households and that 100 per cent. of duty rate changes are passed through to households.
	The relative sizes of the relevant tax changes mean that the overall shares supplied in the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 263W for VAT alone are largely unchanged when combined with the alcohol and tobacco elements.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Lost Property

Paul Holmes: To ask the Leader of the House what the cost of replacing property lost or stolen from her Office was in each year since 1997.

Chris Bryant: The cost of replacing property lost or stolen from the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons since June 2007 is 29.99.
	The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons joined the Cabinet Office in 20'07. Information prior to this is available only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Drugs

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what joint UK/US initiatives for which his Department is responsible are in place to tackle the production and distribution of drugs.

John Hutton: The UK and US have established the Joint Narcotics Analysis Centre (JNAC) and the Inter-agency Operations Co-ordination Centre (IOCC), which aim to improve law enforcement co-ordination mechanisms and to tackle the drugs trade in Afghanistan. The UK also supports the US-led Joint Inter Agency Task Force (South), which comprises the US plus 13 partner nations, and which conducts inter-agency operations against illicit trafficking in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Eastern Pacific high seas.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents designated as troops in contact were recorded in each month of Operation  (a) Herrick 4,  (b) Herrick 5,  (c) Herrick 6 and  (d) Herrick 7.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 April 2009
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency.
	The numbers of troops in contact events, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province recorded by Task Force Helmand for each month from April 2006 to March 2008 are as follows.
	
		
			   2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 1) 
			 January  60 70 
			 February  100 70 
			 March  140 80 
			 April 0 70  
			 May 0 120  
			 June 10 110  
			 July 120 130  
			 August 100 130  
			 September 100 130  
			 October 40 90  
			 November 40 110  
			 December 50 130  
			 (1) Rounded to 10 
		
	
	ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan army and police units. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
	These data are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.

Armed Forces: Surveys

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken in relation to the continuous attitude survey for  (a) armed forces families and  (b) reserve forces; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent survey reports.

Kevan Jones: Each service conducts its own families' survey but the distribution, collection and analysis of the data are not standard across the services. It is our intention to review the families' surveys with the aim of establishing a more consistent method of data collection. The surveys are already available in the Library of the House.
	Similarly, the reserves' surveys are separately conducted by each service with the data used to inform each service's personnel policy. Again, the reserves' surveys are not standardised so it can be difficult to get an accurate feel for tri-service issues and trends that may need addressing. It is also our intention to review the reserves' surveys with the aim of establishing a more consistent method of data collection and publication.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Snatch 2A vehicles have been withdrawn from service outside the wire on operations.

John Hutton: Senior Operational Commanders have confirmed that there remains a critical need for a light protected patrol vehicle such as the Snatch Land Rover, which can reach areas that are inaccessible to heavier vehicles. The introduction of Snatch Vixen and the procurement of the tactical support vehicles announced in October 2008, will enable us to continue reducing the scope of the Snatch 2A vehicle's role until it is used only within our camps. To comment further would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Arms Trade

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria the Government uses when determining to which countries arms may be sold; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	All export licence applications are considered on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. The Consolidated Criteria can be viewed on the BERR website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/europeandtrade/strategicexportcontrol/legislation/consolidated-criteria/page46288.html

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Kevan Jones: The MOD does not offer staff additional leave for Christmas shopping or Christmas bonus payments.

Defence Medical Services: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) psychologists,  (b) psychiatrists,  (c) mental health nurses and  (d) occupational therapists Defence Medical Services employed in each year since 1997.

Kevan Jones: The following table illustrates the trained strength figures in the appropriate specialties:
	
		
			   DMS civilian staff  DMS military staff 
			   Occupational therapists( 1)  Psychologists( 2)  Psychiatrists( 3,4)  Mental health nurses( 3,4) 
			 1997 6 1 (5) (5) 
			 1998 6 2 13 76 
			 1999 6 3 (5) (5) 
			 2000 6 5 14 75 
			 2001 6 6 11 78 
			 2002 8 7 10 77 
			 2003 8 6 11 83 
			 2004 8 5 10 98 
			 2005 11 5 12 97 
			 2006 11 5 10 96 
			 2007 13 6 13 77 
			 2008 14 10 14 105 
			 (1) The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court employs civilian occupational therapists (OTs), some of whom have cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) training as part of their overall clinical portfolio. The total numbers of civilian OTs employed in each year are shown. The Defence Medical Services do not employ mental health occupational therapists (MHOTs). Our current community-based mental health provision is occupationally oriented and aims to manage patients in their work/home environment. This is done by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychiatrists and mental health nurses, with access to both clinical psychologists and mental health social workers.  (2) MOD does not employ uniformed clinical psychologists; the numbers shown are civilians only. (3) Psychiatrist and mental heath nurse numbers shown are for trained military staff only and exclude staff in command staff posts and trained military staff who are studying towards further qualifications.  (4) MOD also employs civilian consultant psychiatrists and mental health nurses; as at September 2008, there were 14 civilian psychiatrists and 56 civilian mental health nurses. Historical data is not maintained centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (5 )Data not available.  Note:  All data are for year ending April.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of his Department's capital expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Government published updated capital DEL in the pre-Budget report in November 2008. This information can be found at the following link:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr08_repindex.htm
	The figures for the Ministry of Defence provided on page 214 are:  (a) 2008-098.0 billion;  (b) 2009-108.2 billion; and  (c) 2010-118.9 billion.
	The Government have not set Department's capital DEL budgets for beyond 2011-12. Capital DEL budgets for 2011-12 and beyond are a matter for the next spending review. The Government do, however, publish projections for public sector net investment (PSNI) over the forecast period at Budget and pre-Budget reports.

Government Departments: Security

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security checks his Department undertakes on independent security assessors appointed to positions in  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) other departments.

Kevan Jones: The Defence Vetting Agency undertakes national security vetting for employees of a number of Government Departments, not including the Cabinet Office, where appropriate to the needs of those Departments.

NATO: EU Defence Policy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the NATO Secretary General to discuss the EU-NATO relations as they relate to defence matters; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I discussed the importance of NATO-EU co-operation with the NATO's North Atlantic Council and the Secretary-General on 4 February 2009. In addition, NATO-EU co-operation is regularly discussed at NATO Defence Ministers' meetings, the most recent of which was on 19-20 February.
	Effective NATO-EU relations are essential in order to deliver both capability development and effective operations on the ground. The importance of this co-operation is highlighted in the European Security Strategy and NATO's Comprehensive Political Guidance.

Nuclear Disarmament

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of France rejoining the military structure of NATO on  (a) UK and  (b) NATO policy on nuclear disarmament.

John Hutton: The UK regularly discusses multilateral nuclear disarmament issues with France as well as other NATO nations and nuclear weapon states. I am not aware of any link between France rejoining NATO's Integrated Military Structure and the UK policy on multilateral nuclear disarmament.

Nuclear Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what collisions involving a UK nuclear powered submarine and  (a) another submarine,  (b) another naval vessel,  (c) a private vessel and  (d) a merchant vessel have taken place since 1979;
	(2)  what grounding incidents involving UK nuclear-powered submarines have taken place since 1979.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy has no records of collisions between nuclear powered submarines and other submarines and naval vessels, other than the recent incident involving HMS Vanguard and the French submarine Le Triomphant.
	The full list of incidents of collisions involving Royal Navy nuclear powered submarines for which the Royal Navy holds records is as follows:
	HMS Superb grounding in the Red Sea in May 2008.
	HMS Tireless struck an iceberg while on Arctic Patrol in May 2003.
	HMS Trafalgar grounded on Fladda-chuain in November 2002.
	HMS Triumph grounded in November 2000.
	HMS Victorious grounded, while surfaced, on Skelmorlie Bank in November 2000.
	HMS Trenchant grounded off the coast of Australia in July 1997.
	HMS Repulse grounded in the North Channel in July 1996.
	HMS Trafalgar grounded off the Isle of Skye in July 1996.
	HMS Valliant grounded in the North Norwegian Sea in March 1991.
	HMS Trenchant snagged the fishing vessel Antares in the Arran Trench in November 1990.
	HMS Spartan grounded west of Scotland in October 1989.
	HMS Sceptre snagged the fishing vessel Scotia in November 1989.
	HMS Conqueror collided with the yacht Dalriada off the Northern Irish coast in July 1988.
	All the vessels, apart from HMS Superb, which was decommissioned in October 2008, were repaired and returned to service.
	Information is not held centrally for the period 1979-88 and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what fires have taken place on UK nuclear powered submarines since 1979.  [Official Report, 16 September 2009, Vol. 490, c. 40MC.]

Bob Ainsworth: The records of fire incidents onboard UK nuclear submarines are not held centrally prior to 1 January 1987. Since this date the Royal Navy records provide the following information:
	213 small scale fires, that are categorised as a localised fire such as a minor electrical fault creating smoke dealt with quickly and effectively using minimal onboard resources.
	21 medium scale fires that were generally categorised as a localised fire such as a failure of mechanical equipment creating smoke and flame requiring use of significant onboard resources.
	Three fires occurred while the submarines involved were in naval bases, requiring both ship and external resources.

RAF Fairford

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards have been put in place to prevent future fuel spillages by US base authorities at RAF Fairford.

Bob Ainsworth: Fluid level sensors are to be installed in each of the eight pump rooms together with an automated warning system to alert the fuels control room of any problems. The operator procedures will also be altered to ensure that regular visits and inspections of the pump rooms take place.

USA: Military Bases

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 21 June 2004,  Official Report, column 1078, on RAF Menwith Hill, for which military bases on British soil hon. Members seeking to visit would require the permission of the US Administration; and if he will issue guidance to hon. Members on procedures for gaining approval for such visits.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no military bases on British soil for which approval is required from the US Administration for hon. Members to visit.

Wellington Barracks Bury

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to develop the site of the former Wellington Barracks in Bury; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: All but around half an acre of the former barracks site was sold to Bury Corporation in the 1960s. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to develop the retained site, which includes the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum, Regimental Headquarters, an Army Careers Information Office, a building leased to the trustees of the Lancashire Fusiliers Regimental Association and a memorial owned by the trustees of the museum.
	However, officials are in discussions with the trustees of the Fusiliers new museum, located on another site, in regard to the possible transfer there of those tasks which remain on the barracks site.
	Only if the retained MOD site can be vacated will the Department seek to establish whether alternative MOD or wider Government requirements exist and consider disposal.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Crisis Loans: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Eastbourne constituency received a crisis loan in each month for the last two years.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is not available. Information on Crisis Loan awards is not held by parliamentary constituency, only by Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area.

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Jonathan R Shaw: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20-year private finance initiative deal with Trillium known as the PRIME contract. A list of the 1,005 buildings currently operated under the PRIME contract has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what  (a) capital and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support;
	(2)  what capital funding his Department has brought forward from its  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 budgets for use in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and to what ends this funding has been allocated.

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 27 March 2009
	The Department has not brought forward any capital or resource funding from 2009-10 or 2010-11 budgets for use in earlier years.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Jonathan R Shaw: The cost of production and printing incurred by the Department, exclusive of VAT, for the 2008 departmental report were 26,875. The estimate for the 2008 autumn performance report is 8,344.
	With regard to other costs, such as staff time, the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse for the requirement of drug users to undertake  (a) rehabilitation plans,  (b) substance related assessment and  (c) relevant tests under the proposals contained in schedule 1(a) to the Welfare Reform Bill in their first full year of operation.

Tony McNulty: We aim to pilot and evaluate the new approach to employment support for problem drug users set out in the Welfare Reform Bill in a small number of Jobcentre Plus districts. The detail of those pilots, including any additional resources that will be made available, is still in development at this early stage.

Housing Benefit

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number and percentage of households in the private rented sector which received housing benefit in each of the last three years.

Kitty Ussher: Information for the last three years for which data are available on the number of privately rented households in receipt of housing benefit has been supplied along with the overall numbers of households in the private rented sector. As the figures have been drawn from different sources and are based on different time scales the percentage of households receiving housing benefit in the privately rented sector has not been presented.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of households in the private rented sector receiving housing benefit in Great Britain, 2005-07 
			  As at August each year  Private households receiving housing benefit 
			 2005 805,550 
			 2006 861,000 
			 2007 940,600 
			  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 5. From February 2007, DWP has been collecting more detailed HB/CTB data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics. However, until the new data have been fully quality assured to National Statistics standards, the most recent summary statistics available are for August 2007.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in August 2005 to August 2007 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of dwellings rented privately or with a job or business: Great Britain, 2005-2007 
			   All households privately rented or with a job or business 
			 March 2005 2,866,000 
			 March 2006 3,035,000 
			 March 2007 3,234,000 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates for the overall number of private households are based on local authority and Registered Social Landlord dwelling counts, and the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Estimates may not be strictly comparable between periods.  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.  Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-102.xls

Housing Benefit

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each region have received housing benefit based on local reference rents in each of the last four years.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of housing benefit recipients assessed under local reference rents by Government office region: 2003-06 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Great Britain 555,680 621,720 675,960 703,090 
			 North East 31,160 31,440 32,440 35,170 
			 North West 87,500 94,280 97,370 100,340 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 47,410 51,120 52,940 48,020 
			 East Midlands 28,660 34,010 36,770 42,450 
			 West Midlands 40,500 40,770 43,460 49,150 
			 East 39,370 44,4*0 50,660 55,320 
			 London 78,660 99,560 115,540 125,590 
			 South East 68,760 80,420 91,010 91,120 
			 South West 58,380 63,170 69,890 75,900 
			 Wales 36,510 36,890 38,240 40,360 
			 Scotland 38,790 45,680 47,630 39,680 
			  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. The totals for Great Britain include estimates for local authorities that have not responded. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 5. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 6. Statistics on tenancy schemes within the deregulated private rented sector are not currently available beyond November 2006 due to concerns over the reliability of recent data. 7. From February 2007, the Department for Work and Pensions has been collecting more detailed housing benefit and council tax benefit data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics. However, the new data have not yet have been fully quality assured to National Statistics standards.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in November 2003-06

Housing Benefit: Elderly

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of individuals in  (a) private rented and  (b) social housing over the age of 65 years who received housing benefit in each year since 2000.

Kitty Ussher: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of recipients of housing benefit in Great Britain by age and tenure: 2000-04 
			 Private  Social Housing 
			All housing benefit recipients  Private tenants  Local a uthority tenants  Registered social landlord tenants 
			 2000 All Ages 4,033,000 815,000 2,288,000 931,000 
			  Aged 65 and over 1,423,000 162,000 941,000 320,000 
			 2001 All Ages 3,874,000 743,000 2,133,000 998,000 
			  Aged 65 and over 1,397,000 155,000 893,000 349,000 
			 2002 All Ages 3,813,000 719,000 2,038,000 1,056,000 
			  Aged 65 and over 1,367,000 147,000 847,000 373,000 
			 2003 All Ages 3,796,000 715,000 1,838,000 1,244,000 
			  Aged 65 and over 1,346,000 147,000 756,000 444,000 
			 2004 All Ages 3,879,000 744,000 1,808,000 1,328,000 
			  Aged 65 and over 1,362,000 150,000 738,000 474,000 
			  Notes: 1. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2000-04.

Jobcentre Plus

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what outreach services are offered by Jobcentre Plus staff outside of Jobcentre Plus; and in what types of locations.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what outreach services are offered by Jobcentre Plus staff outside of Jobcentre Plus; and in what types of locations. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In addition to its network of 744 Jobcentres, Jobcentre Plus services are available from over 140 'Flexible Service Delivery' sites across Great Britain.
	The services available at each site depend on local circumstance and range from the availability of a Jobcentre Plus 'jobpoint' (which provides electronic access to a vast array of available vacancies and training opportunities) to a significant number of services available in a Jobcentre such as jobsearch advice, benefit enquiries and signposting to other sources of help.
	Jobcentre Plus works closely with partners in the community to consider whether further outreach services, for example in deprived areas, may be necessary and will continue doing so as part of its response to the continuing economic situation.
	Some recent examples include a pilot launched in January this year in conjunction with the Department for Children, Schools  Families and the Child Poverty Unit. One full time adviser is located in each of 30 Children's Centres (in a mix of urban and rural locations) across Great Britain. Advisers offer a full range of work focused services to unemployed parents including parents whose partner is currently employed.
	Jobcentre Plus is also piloting an adviser outreach service, locating one adviser in each of ten of its districts (comprising urban and rural areas) in a GP surgery. The main role of the adviser is to signpost provision offered under Pathways to Work, patients are referred by their GP for initial employment advice and signposting to a range of support and assistance.
	Jobcentre Plus advisers also provide an outreach service alongside Prison Service and other agency staff in Employment and Benefit surgeries to advise prisoners at both the induction and pre release stages of custody.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of jobseeker's allowance as a percentage of average earnings was in each year since 1980; and what he estimates the level will be in each of the next 10 years.

Tony McNulty: Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance paid at a flat rate is only part of the comprehensive support available to jobseekers. Income-related jobseeker's allowance, income support and other income-related benefits, such as housing benefit and council tax benefit, are available to top up flat-rate benefits. People bringing up children may also be able to qualify for tax credits.
	Generally jobseeker's allowance (and its predecessor unemployment benefit) has been increased annually to ensure that it retains its value in relation to prices.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Unemployment benefit and contribution based jobseeker's Allowance rates as a perce ntage of average earnings, 1980 to  2008 
			   Unemployment benefit /jobseeker's allowance rate as a percentage of average earnings 
			 1980-81 18.7 
			 1981-82 18.0 
			 1982-83 18.3 
			 1983-84 18.2 
			 1984-85 17.9 
			 1985-86 17.8 
			 1986-87 16.7 
			 1987-88 15.8 
			 1988-89 15.0 
			 1989-90 14.5 
			 1990-91 14.2 
			 1991-92 14.5 
			 1992-93 14.1 
			 1993-94 14.1 
			 1994-95 14.0 
			 1995-96 13.8 
			 1996-97 13.7 
			 1997-98 13.4 
			 1998-99 12.8 
			 1999-2000 12.6 
			 2000-01 12.3 
			 2001-02 11.8 
			 2002-03 11.4 
			 2003-04 11.2 
			 2004-05 11.2 
			 2005-06 10.9 
			 2006-07 10.7 
			 2007-08 10.7 
			 2008-09 10.5 
			  Notes: 1. Unemployment benefit/jobseeker's allowance rates are for a single person aged 25 or over. 2. Average earnings from 1998 onwards are taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and before 1998 from the New Earnings Survey (NES) 3. Average earnings are mean UK gross weekly pay for full-time adult employees.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in jobseeker's allowance to claimants in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Jobseeker ' s allowance expenditure2008-09 prices 
			   million 
			   Cumbria  Copeland 
			 2003-04 16.7 3.8 
			 2004-05 14.3 3.2 
			 2005-06 15.2 3.2 
			 2006-07 15.1 3.1 
			 2007-08 13.1 2.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Jobseeker ' s allowance expenditurenominal terms 
			   million 
			   Cumbria  Copeland 
			 2003-04 19.1 4.3 
			 2004-05 15.9 3.6 
			 2005-06 16.6 3.5 
			 2006-07 16.1 3.3 
			 2007-08 13.5 2.9 
			  Notes: 1. Caseloads and average amounts have been used to calculate expenditure amounts. 2. Expenditure figures are consistent with the PBR 2008 published expenditure figures. 3. Department of Work and Pensions benefit expenditure tables are available at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp  Source: DWP statistical and accounting data

New Deal Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects phase two of the Flexible New Deal to start.

Tony McNulty: Plans for the phased implementation of the Flexible New Deal were announced to Parliament on 14 March 2008. The Government expect to bring in the Flexible New Deal, in phase two areas, from October 2010.

New Deal Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the procurement process for phase two of the Flexible New Deal is due to start.

Tony McNulty: DWP has already embarked on market engagement for phase 2 of flexible new deal, including five supplier briefing events held around the country in February 2009. The pre-qualification questionnaire documents will be available to download from the DWP website in May 2009.

Pension Credit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) single pensioners and  (b) pensioner couples are in receipt of pension credit in each Parliamentary constituency; and what the average entitlement is in each case.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested will be placed in the Library.

Public Opinion

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments for  (a) polling and  (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is as follows:
	(i) We have no record of any payments being made to Deborah Mattinson.
	(ii) The total payments made to Opinion Leader Research since 31 December 2007 are 33,622.75

Social Security Benefits: Eligibility

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit entitlement checks have been carried out for people in  (a) Crosby constituency and  (b) England in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally.

Vocational Training

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many drug users have been placed on a training course through progress2work; and how many have completed such a course.

Tony McNulty: Since September 2004, the number of customers entering further education or training both for progress2work and for progress2work-LinkUP is 12,203. Providers can not claim for completion of further education and training as an outcome and therefore we do not collect that information.
	The number of customers undertaking specialist training or provision, which could include training courses is 7,620. The number completing specialist training or provision is 4,966.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures are correct at the end of January 2009
	2. Numbers are rounded up to the nearest 10 to avoid the risk of identifying individuals.
	3. Information is only collected if the customer signs a consent form for their information to be collected on the web based Management Information collection system.

TRANSPORT

A316

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of road works undertaken on the A316 in 2008-09; and for what reasons such works were undertaken.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The A316 in London has formed part of the Transport for London road network since July 2000. Therefore, any improvement schemes for that road are a matter for the London Mayor and Transport for London as are the details of the costs of any improvements. Further questions should be directed accordingly.
	There have been no major works undertaken on the section of the A316 outside of the London Boundary during 2008-09.

Accidents: Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personnel trained in animal welfare are employed by the Highways Agency to assist traffic officers in road incidents involving injured animals.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency does not directly employ any personnel trained in animal welfare. To assist traffic officers in road incidents involving injured animals, the Highways Agency has national partnership agreements in place with the British Equine Veterinary Association through the 'emergency services protocol when dealing with incidents involving equines' and with the RSPCA. These partnership arrangements provide trained personnel to the traffic officer service to ensure the welfare of injured animals.

Accidents: Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of animals killed on main roads in England in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency (HA) is responsible for the strategic road network in England which consists of motorways and trunk roads. Other roads are the responsibility of local authorities. The Highways Agency do not keep records and the managing agents are not required to record the number of animals killed on the roads they are managing. Any records that are kept are inconsistent making it difficult to collate the data to give an accurate figure. Some agent's contracts have terminated within the five-year period and these records are not available. From the data available, the following figures are for the minimum number killed.
	
		
			  January to December  Number of animals killed 
			 2004 2,585 
			 2005 2,831 
			 2006 3,095 
			 2007 4,058 
			 2008 4,899

Aviation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission an independent review of the Air Transport White Paper.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Air Transport White Paper is kept under regular review. The Department for Transport published a progress report on the White Paper in December 2006, and a further progress report is due to be published within the next two years. Forecasts of UK air passenger numbers and CO2 emissions are also reviewed regularly, the most recent edition being published in January 2009. The forecasting methods were independently peer-reviewed as part of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Impact Assessment. The Air Transport White Paper also contains a commitment to evaluate the policies set out in the White Paper; the first stages of this evaluation are now under way.

Bus Services: Concessions

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many concessionary bus passes for people over 60 years have been issued to residents of Essex.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is not responsible for issuing passes and so does not maintain records of how many passes individual authorities have issued.
	The last information held by the Department was that as of 7 April 2008 Essex local authorities, including the unitary authorities of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea had submitted approximately 211,000 applications for the new smartcard concessionary passes to their pass supplier. This includes applications from disabled people as well as those aged 60 and over.

Bus Services: Concessions

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations answered  (a) yes,  (b) no and  (c) blank in respect of each of the questions contained in the consultation on the definition of eligible services for the statutory bus concession in England.

Paul Clark: A list of the consultees and their responses has been prepared. The list excludes around half a dozen respondents who requested confidentiality. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Chippenham Railway Station

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects funding to be made available through the Access for All programme for Chippenham railway station.

Paul Clark: We announced in January 2008 that Chippenham would be targeted for investment under the Access for All programme during the 2012-15 period. Following an initial site survey and option selection process, we expect Network Rail to install an obstacle free, accessible route at the station within this timescale.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport does not offer staff additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping or Christmas bonus payments.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to introducing a toll-free crossings trial at the Dartford Crossing.

Paul Clark: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has made it clear that he is willing to consider innovative solutions to improve transport links and has invited local MPs to meet Ministers to discuss solutions.
	For much of the day the crossing operates at or above capacity. The tunnels in particular could not handle more traffic than the toll plaza can process. That, among other things, would need to be taken into account if we introduced any trial arrangements.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 986W, on departmental bank services, what the  (a) purpose and  (b) monetary value is of each contract between his Department and each of the banks listed in the Answer.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport has had four contracts in place with banks in 2008-09 as follows:
	
		
			  Bank  Purpose of contract  Estimated value  () 
			 UBS Ltd Crossrail financial advisor, advising DFT on funding and governance arrangements 175,000 
			 Merrill Lynch International Aviation financial advice, related to the purchase of BAA by Ferrovial 50,000 
			 Merrill Lynch International Aviation financial advicereview of regulatory framework for UK airports 150,000 
			 Citigroup Global Markets Ltd Financial advisory services in relation to the restructuring of London and Continental Railways Ltd and the disposal of its subsidiary businesses 3,240,000

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Property name  PFI company 
			 Firth Court, Lincoln Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Nottingham Business Park Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Riverside House, Northampton Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 DVLA Peterborough88 Lincoln Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 St. Clare House, Ipswich Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 11 Prince Of Wales Road, Norwich Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 DVLA ChelmsfordSwift House Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Units 2 and 3 Elstree Gate, Borehamwood Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Connect House, London Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Sidcup House, Bexley Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 St. Marks House, Stockton on Tees Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Eagle Star House, Newcastle upon Tyne Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Norroy House, Chester Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Ground Floor, Carlisle Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Trafford House, Manchester Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Block A, Fulwood Park, Preston Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Alhambra House, Glasgow Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Aberdeen Greyfriars House 54 G, Aberdeen Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Longman House, Inverness Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Caledonian House, Dundee Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Wallace House, Edinburgh Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Mocatta House, Brighton Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Building B, Theale House, Theale Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Connect Centre 5(th) Floor. Portsmouth Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 3 Cambridge Terrace. Oxford Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Coronet House, Maidstone Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Northleigh House, Bristol Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Bourne Gate, Bournemouth Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Truro Pydar House, Truro Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Hanover House, Exeter Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Welsh Water Authority Building, Bangor Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Swansea Vale 1 (Telelink Phase), Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Archway House, Cardiff Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 DVLA Morriston (Treforys) Main Site Campus, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Off Site Data Centre, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Richard Ley Development Centre, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Dlup Dual Print Facility, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Cygnus Building (Telelink 1b), Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Gatehouse, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Rosb Contact Centre, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Shared Services Centre, Swansea Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Clerkenleap Barn, Worcester Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Shrewsbury Multi Purpose Test, Shrewsbury Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 42 Eastgate, Leeds Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Cedar House, Sheffield Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Beverley Crosskill House, Beverley Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Garretts Green Multi Purpose Test, Birmingham Trillium Property Partnerships 
			 Billingham Depot Autolink Ltd 
			 Stocksfield Depot Road Link (A69) Ltd 
			 Bramham Depot Connect M1-At Ltd 
			 Boroughbridge Depot Road Management Services Ltd 
			 Banbury Depot UK Highways M40 Ltd 
			 Handy Cross Depot UK Highways M40 Ltd 
			 Milton Common Depot UK Highways M40 Ltd 
			 Scropton Depot Connect A50 Ltd 
			 Cherry Tree Lane Depot Road Management Services Ltd 
			 Avonmouth Bridge Unit Operated by InterRoute 
			 Aust Bridge Seven Bridge Company

Departmental Buildings

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what properties  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies have sold in each of the last five years.

Geoff Hoon: The information is provided as follows.
	
		
			  DFT Organisational Unit  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  (a) Central Department 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			
			  (b) Executive Agency:   
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			 Driving Standards Agency 0 0 0 1 0 2 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			 Highways Agency 129 135 126 109 56 n/a 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency n/a 1 2 3 3 2 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			
			  (c) NDPBs:   
			 British Transport Police Authority 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			 Passenger Focus 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			 The Railway Heritage Committee 0 0 0 0 0 n/a 
			 Trinity House Lighthouse Service(1) n/a 0 2 0 0 1 
			 Northern Lighthouse Board n/a 0 2 4 0 2 
			 (1 )Relates to calendar year

Departmental Capital Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Geoff Hoon: The Fiscal Stimulus package for transport, announced in the pre-Budget report, Facing global challenges: Supporting people through difficult times (Cm 7484), comprises 700 million of capital budget advanced into 2009-10 from 2010-11. No funds were advanced into 2008-09 from 2009-10.

Departmental Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on consultants in respect of  (a) cycling and  (b) walking in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: Approximately 2.513 million has been spent on consultants to support Cycling England's programme. This includes tasks such as provision of advice and support to local authorities to help them deliver effective cycling projects, management of grant dispersal, monitoring and evaluation and development of the new cycle training programme.
	It is not possible to quantify the walking and cycling element of the full range of projects. There will be a walking and cycling element to many road safety and traffic management projects for example.

Departmental Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on consultants in respect of proposals to widen  (a) the M1,  (b) the M6 and  (c) the M62 in each of the last 11 years.

Paul Clark: The expenditure on consultants engaged on widening the M1, M6 and M62 schemes by year, is given in the table.
	
		
			   Motorway 
			   M1  M6  M62 
			 Pre 2001-02 0.0 0.2 0.0 
			 2001-02 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 2002-03 0.0 0.6 0.0 
			 2003-04 0.9 2.7 0.0 
			 2004-05 5.7 1.1 0.0 
			 2005-06 9.1 3.2 0.2 
			 2006-07 20.2 0.0 1.0 
			 2007-08 10.6 0.0 0.5 
			 2008-09 2.2 0.0 0.5 
			 Total 48.8 7.8 2.2 
		
	
	Due to changes in the Highways Agency's financial systems, all expenditure before 2001-02 is given as 'pre 2001-02' expenditure.
	The expenditure is the total cost of all consultancy work including employer's agent and design and development consultants from programme entry up to:
	construction, for schemes which have completed or are currently under construction; or
	July 2008 for schemes which, since that date, have been considered for Hard Shoulder Running as part of the Managed Motorways feasibility study.
	Some schemes have investigated Active Traffic management options alongside widening before the Hard Shoulder Running feasibility study programme started in July 2008. Expenditure on these schemes is not entirely attributable to widening, but it is not possible to separate these costs.

Departmental Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on consultants on road widening schemes  (a) in total and  (b) in each region in each of the last 11 years.

Paul Clark: The expenditure on consultants engaged on both motorway and non-motorway widening schemes, by region and by year, is given in the table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Region  Pre 2001-02  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  Total 
			 NE 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 2.5 1.7 0.0 0.0 5.4 
			 E 9.9 0.4 2.1 6.1 16.5 20.9 29.1 26.8 26.7 138.6 
			 EM 1.9 0.1 1.2 -1.8 11.1 10.6 15.9 9.1 5.3 53.3 
			 NW 4.2 -1.6 2.1 2.7 1.1 3.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 11.8 
			 SE 11.8 -4.8 2.7 2.0 5.6 14.9 10.1 4.7 2.0 49.0 
			 SW 1.4 1.1 2.4 4.8 6.2 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 16.2 
			 WM 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 YH 19.9 3.3 18.7 1.5 7.1 8.8 10.3 9.9 0.5 80.0 
			 Total 49.7 -1.5 29.2 15.4 48.0 60.8 67.4 50.5 34.7 354.2 
			  Key:  NE (North East) E (East) EM (East Midlands) NW (North West) SE (South East) SW (South West) WM (West Midlands) YH (Yorkshire and Humberside) 
		
	
	Due to changes in the Highways Agency's financial systems, all expenditure before 2001-02 is given as 'pre 2001-02' expenditure. Negative figures represent prior years' accounting adjustments on specific schemes.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Geoff Hoon: The central Department and its agencies disciplined or dismissed the following staff for poor sickness records in each of the last 12 months:
	
		
			   Disciplined  Dismissed 
			 March 2008 (1) (1) 
			 April 2008 (1) 8 
			 May 2008 8 (1) 
			 June 2008 (1) 7 
			 July 2008 7 7 
			 August 2008 6 (1) 
			 September 2008 10 5 
			 October 2008 5 (1) 
			 November 2008 (1) (1) 
			 December 2008 (1) (1) 
			 January 2009 13 (1) 
			 February 2009 20 (1) 
			 (1) Where there are fewer than five occurrences, the Department's policy is to suppress information on grounds of confidentiality.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Geoff Hoon: The annual cost to the Department of maintaining empty buildings is estimated at 56,366.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel was used by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in each of the last 10 years.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and we do not hold the relevant records prior to that date.
	The following tables show the electricity, gas and other fuels used by the Department for Transport and its Agencies since 2002-03.
	
		
			  Electricity (kWh) 
			  Business unit  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Central Department 6,694,663 7,095,869 8,073,203 9,189,266 8,039,848 7,522,567 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 3,187,173 2,747,674 3,397,953 3,967,843 4,337,092 3,555,589 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 11,304,647 12,560,860 14,698,167 14,106,404 15,658,681 16,460,063 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) Not part of Department for Transport 757,036 831,151 821,805 
			 Highways Agency (HA) 3,973,064 3,536,282 4,092,816 3,615,533 3,602,937 4,393,721 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 4,774,651 5,345,847 5,708,513 6,901,183 6,831,677 5,813,369 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) 147,670 131,919 65,069 153,608 136,804 200,423 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) 3,927,944 6,243,987 7,194,512 6,640,513 6,914,649 6,992,162 
			 Total 34,009,812 37,662,438 43,230,233 45,331,386 46,352,839 45,759,699 
		
	
	
		
			  Gas (kWh) 
			  Business unit  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Central Department 1,255,887 1,169,739 1,183,339 1,743,451 893,005 970,130 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 4,035,828 3,371,061 2,836,153 7,135,920 3,942,059 3,095,886 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 7,166,349 7,376,529 14,665,348 28,442,576 26,254,520 31,470,328 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) Not part of Department for Transport 733,428 638,352 1,909,513 
			 Highways Agency (HA) 2,656,672 2,642,338 2,418,204 2,170,079 1,769,332 2,049,947 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 3,537,663 3,767,973 3,283,979 4,308,427 3,508,140 2,796,924 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) 116,093 130,537 119,626 130,536 109,035 90,245 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) 5,491,702 5,666,459 6,850,996 5,427,891 5,652,612 6,882,232 
			 Total 24,260,194 24,124,636 31,357,645 50,092,308 42,767,055 49,265,205 
		
	
	
		
			  Other Fuels (kWh) 
			  Business unit  2002 - 03  2003 - 04  2004 - 05  2005 - 06  2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			 Central Department 464,400 444,312 421,858 450,079 448,200 390,760 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA)7,000 6,500 120,010 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)  527,640 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) Not part of Department for Transport
			 Highways Agency (HA).   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 421,267 421,267 26,043  797,067 676,865 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) 185,500 185,500 196,100 212,000 238,500 190,925 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) 1,476,601 1,075,090 1,417,470  1,704,115 1,431,981 
			 Total 2,547,768 2,126,169 2,061,471 669,079 3,194,382 3,338,181 
		
	
	Part of the progressive increases shown above is accounted for by improvements in the standard of data collection.

Departmental Public Consultations

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public consultations his Department has conducted in the last 12 months; how long each consultation was open for; how many responses were received in each case; and what the cost of conducting each consultation was.

Geoff Hoon: Details of the consultations conducted by the Department for Transport between 1 February 2008 and 31 January 2009 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) capital and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Geoff Hoon: The Fiscal Stimulus package for transport, announced in the pre-Budget report, Facing global challenges: Supporting people through difficult times (Cm 7484), comprises 700 million of capital budget advanced into 2009-10 from 2010-11. No funds were advanced into 2008-09 from 2009-10; resource budgets are unaffected.
	The fiscal stimulus package included 300 million for advanced works on delivering managed motorways and other projects Highways Agency, 300 million on the procurement of diesel units as part of the Department for Transport's high level output specification for Britain's railways and 100 million on improvements to the A46.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of his Department's capital expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The figures published on page 214 of the pre-Budget report in November 2008 are still current for the Department for Transport.
	The forecast outturn for expenditure within the Department's capital department expenditure limit (CDEL) for 2008-09 is 7.3 billion.
	Capital budgets (CDEL) for 2009-10 and 2010-11 (as set in the 2007 comprehensive spending review and amended for the impacts of the fiscal stimulus package for transport, announced in the pre-Budget report, 'Facing global challenges: Supporting people through difficult times' (Cm 7484)) is 8.3 billion and 7.4 billion.
	In regard to 2011-12; while the Government do publish projections for public sector net investment at Budgets and pre-Budget reports, the Government have not set the Department's capital DEL budgets for years beyond 2010-11the Department's capital DEL budget for 2011-12 and beyond will be a matter for the next spending review.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) The pre-press production costs including image licensing, proofreading, indexing, typesetting and printing for the most recent (i) Departmental Annual Report was 25,622 and (ii) Autumn Performance Report was 5,545.

Departmental Scientists

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in his Department have a science or engineering degree.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport does not have a separately identified budget for scientific advice and research, but estimates that its spend for 2008-09 will be approximately 62.5 million.
	The equivalent budget in 2007-08 was used to fund research to inform a wide range of the Department's responsibilities. An overview of these is included in the departmental evidence and research strategy published on the website. Also on the website are further details in the unit-level strategies and access to the Department's research database.
	The Department does not collate information on the qualifications of the people it employs, and such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Based on a recent Government Office for Science Community of Interest survey (which was on an 'opt in' basis), the Department had 71 respondents. Of these, 30 indicated a science background (qualification or level not specified) and 35 an engineering background; six quoted a science and engineering background. Of the total, 43 indicated they were members of professional bodies.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport is directly responsible for the delivery of PSA5to deliver reliable and efficient transport networks that support economic growth. Four indicators support this public service agreement and progress on each is monitored using data arising from the Department's existing business activity. As such there is no cost to the Department of measuring compliance against these indicators.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1124W, which Ministers took the  (a) induction and  (b) action learning set course; and how much these courses cost.

Geoff Hoon: The two courses referred to in my earlier answer cost 100 and 250 respectively. Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.

Departmental Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on work-related journeys by  (a) taxi,  (b) car,  (c) train,  (d) bus,  (e) plane,  (f) bicycle,  (g) motorcycle and  (h) ferry in each of the last 11 years.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport does not readily hold the information on spend by travel mode and cannot provide the detail without incurring disproportionate costs.

Ferries

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements his Department places on operators of ferries which make journeys of less than 20 miles in respect of  (a) passenger loading limits and  (b) recording the number of passengers embarking.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following requirements, for ferry operators making journeys of less than 20 miles, are applicable:
	 (a) Passenger Loading Limits
	Regulations on the technical requirements of passenger ships to the passenger numbers include:
	The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998;
	The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998;
	The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000;
	The Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ships) (Stability) Regulations 2004;
	The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998;
	The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Large Ships) Regulations 1998;
	The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2003;
	The Merchant Shipping (Emergency Information for Passengers) Regulations 1990;
	The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2004;
	The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances For Ships Other Than Ships Of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999;
	The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances For Passenger Ships Of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999.
	On completion of surveys which take account of the above regulations, instructions to surveyors and other relevant departmental guidance, each ship is issued with a Passenger Certificate stipulating the maximum number of passengers and the total number of persons on board (including crew) that can be safely carried.
	 (b) Passenger Counting
	The Merchant Shipping (Counting and Registration of Persons on Board Passenger Ships) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 1869), supported by Merchant Shipping Notice 1794 describes practical methods for counting and registering passengers. For voyages of less than 20 miles, these regulations require a count of passengers and crew and for this information to be held ashore for the duration of the voyage;
	 Definition of a Class VI Passenger Vessel
	A passenger ship engaged only on voyages with not more than 250 passengers on board, to sea, or in category A, B, C and D waters, in all cases in favourable weather and during restricted periods, in the course of which the ships are at no time more than 15 miles, exclusive of any category, A, B and C waters, from their point of departure nor more than three miles from land;
	 Definition of a Class VI(A) Passenger Vessel
	A passenger ship carrying not more than 50 passengers for a distance of not more than six miles on voyages to or from isolated communities on the islands or coast of the United Kingdom and which do not proceed for a distance of more than three miles from land subject to any conditions which the Secretary of State for Transport may impose.

Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London on the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line.

Paul Clark: The Minister of State for Transport, Lord Adonis; has met Transport for London to discuss their interest in developing a proposal to electrify the Gospel Oak to Barking line.

Highways Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that before work is undertaken by the Highways Agency which adversely affects residents, information is provided directly to each affected household before work begins.

Paul Clark: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 23 March 2009  Official Report, columns 6-7W.

Highways Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the contract of the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency is due to expire; and what procedures will be followed for the appointment of his successor.

Geoff Hoon: The current Chief Executive of the Highways Agency is a permanent civil servant who was appointed to the role on 30 June 2008.
	The appointment of his successor will be considered at the appropriate time by the Senior Leadership Committee which is responsible for advising the Cabinet Secretary on appointments at Permanent Secretary and Director General levels and for recommending the mode of recruitment for these roles.

Highways Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings there have been between Ministers in his Department and the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to discuss the workings of the Agency in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: Monthly meetings are held between the Minister of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, and the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, at which they discuss a variety of issues including the workings of the Highways Agency.
	The former Chief Executive, Archie Robertson, also had regular meetings with previous Ministers on a regular basis.

Highways Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed in the section of the Highways Agency that deals with the media and public relations; and what the salary of the person in charge of that section is.

Paul Clark: As at 1 April the Highways Agency employs 11 staff in the section responsible for media and public relations. This includes national and regional press officers. The Head of News is a Highways Agency Pay Band 7, for which the London salary range is 47,200 to 55,282. In addition, other Highways Agency staff will be involved in public information exercises in relation to specific projects they are working on.

M3

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the road works on the M3 between the M25 junction 4 to be completed; for what reasons the works were undertaken; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the works.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency has two sets of roadworks currently on the M3 between junctions 4 and the M25.
	The first of these is between the M25 junction 12 and the M3 junction 2, a new lane layout has been installed to reduce congestion for traffic movements from the M25 joining the M3 southbound. Work to make this new lane layout permanent will start in summer 2009 and is expected to complete in autumn 2009. The estimated cost of the work to make the scheme permanent is 2.9 million.
	The second set of roadworks is between M3 Junctions 4 and 3 on the London-bound carriageway and is being carried out for the replacement of the drainage on the northwest side of the motorway. The works are required due to the instability of the ground in this area and the age of the drainage system. The filter drain has cracked over much of its length and running sand is now entering the drain. Without this work there is a high risk that the carriageway will be undermined and that the road will flood during heavy rain, compromising the safety of the travelling public. The work is due to be completed in August 2009 and will cost approximately 4.6 million.

M3

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been collected in speeding fines imposed for violations of the 50 miles per hour limit around the roadworks on the M3 in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: In the last 12 months there have been two sites which have had average speed cameras. The Highways Agency does not hold information on speeding fines collected through cameras on the M3 roadworks because the safety cameras are operated by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.

M4: Greater London

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the elevated section of the M4 in London is scheduled to be closed at night in 2009.

Paul Clark: Between January and March 2009 the M4 elevated section was closed at night 16 times eastbound and 20 times westbound.
	The elevated section is scheduled to be closed at night 28 times westbound and 39 times eastbound between April and September 2009. These closures are to carry out routine maintenance and also to replace expansion joints.
	From September 2009, a new design build finance operate (DBFO) contract will be in place. It is not known if the contractor will maintain the current maintenance regime for the remainder of 2009, however the contract will incentivise efficient methods for scheduling roadworks.
	When undertaking works on the M4 elevated section the restricted width necessitates the full closure of a carriageway, to ensure the safety of the work force and road users. To complete the works in an efficient manner while minimising disruption to residents businesses and road users, closures take place at night with diversions via the A4.

M4: Greater London

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects works on the elevated section of the M4 in London to be completed.

Paul Clark: The current phase of work, to replace expansion joints, is expected to be completed in August 2009.
	The structure carrying the elevated section of the M4 in London will require maintenance activity throughout its life to maintain it in a safe and serviceable condition.

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on consultants in respect of proposals to widen motorways  (a) in total and  (b) in each region in each of the last 11 years.

Paul Clark: holding answer 25 March 2009
	The expenditure on consultants engaged on motorway widening schemes, by region and by year, is given in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Region  Pre 2001-02  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  Total 
			 East 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 10.3 15.1 20.7 18.1 10.0 75.1 
			 East Midlands 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.4 5.7 9.2 3.6 0.3 22.2 
			 North West 4.2 -1.6 2.1 2.7 1.1 3.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 11.8 
			 South East 8.4 0.8 0.5 0.0 2.9 7.2 7.9 1.7 0.2 29.6 
			 South West 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 
			 West Midlands 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 6.7 3.3 18.2 0.0 0.0 1.1 2.2 1.6 0.5 33.7 
			 Total 19.4 2.5 20.8 5.9 20.5 32.3 40.0 25.0 11.2 177.4 
		
	
	Due to changes in the Highways Agency's financial systems, all expenditure before 2001-02 is given as 'pre 2001-02' expenditure. Negative figures represent prior years' accounting adjustments on specific schemes.

Public Transport: Disabled

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public transport in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire is accessible to people with disabilities.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport allocates integrated transport block and highways maintenance funding to local transport authorities for general capital investment in transport. This funding is not ring-fenced and local authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities. The total allocation provided to Hertfordshire (which covers Hemel Hempstead) in 2008-09 is 22.663 million.
	The 'Access for All' Programme is part of the 'Railways for All' Strategy, and was launched by the department in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers using railway stations in Great Britain. The main schemes currently in the programme for Hertfordshire are at the following stations:
	Berkhamstead
	Hitchin
	Letchworth
	Elstree and Borehamwood
	Harpenden
	Hatfield
	Hemel Hempstead
	In addition, there are currently 1.3 million of small scheme awards, to projects worth 3.2 million at over 25 sites in Hertfordshire.
	To ensure that disabled people are able to use public transport, by law all new trains, buses and coaches used on scheduled services now have to be physically accessible, including to wheelchair users. The Department has set deadlines for all trains to be accessible by 2020 and all buses used on local or scheduled services will be required to meet accessibility standards by 2017.
	In addition, the Department is currently consulting on issues to improve the accessibility of taxis.

Public Transport: Disabled

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public transport is accessible to people with disabilities in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport allocates integrated transport block and highways maintenance funding to local transport authorities for general capital investment in transport. This funding is not ring-fenced and local authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities. The total allocation provided to the north east in 2008-09 is 76.184 million.
	The 'Access for All' programme is part of the 'Railways for All' Strategy, and was launched by the Department in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers using railway stations in Great Britain. Details of all the stations currently in the programme can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/rail/railstations/access/accessforallstations.
	To ensure that disabled people are able to use public transport, by law all new trains, buses and coaches used on scheduled services now have to be physically accessible, including to wheelchair users. We have set deadlines for all trains to be accessible by 2020 and all buses used on local or scheduled services will be required to meet accessibility standards by 2017.
	In addition, the Department is currently consulting on issues to improve the accessibility of taxis.

Railways

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that Network Rail maintains its expenditure levels on track and overhead line renewals.

Paul Clark: Determining the appropriate level of expenditure on track and overhead line renewals is a matter for Network Rail and the independent Office of Rail Regulation. The Office of Rail Regulation's document, Periodic review 2008Determination of Network Rail's outputs and funding for 2009-14, assesses the expenditure that Network Rail will need to undertake in 2009-14 on track and overhead line renewals as 3,869 million and 182 million respectively (both in 2006-07 prices).

Railways: Construction

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the analysis his Department has made of high speed rail using the criteria set out in his Department's New Approach to Transport Appraisal.

Paul Clark: holding answer 27 March 2009
	We have asked High Speed Two to report by the end of the year on a new line from London to the west midlands and advise on potential development further north. This will include relevant appraisals. The Department for Transport has not separately appraised high speed rail against New Approach to Appraisal criteria.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the proposed Kent International Gateway project at Junction 8 of the M20; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Strategic Rail Authority document, Strategic Rail Interchange Policy of 2004, which can be found at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/railfreight/railfreightinterchange.pdf
	is still the basis for the Department for Transport's policy on rail freight interchanges.
	I cannot comment on merits of the Kent International Gateway terminal development proposal which is currently under consideration within the planning system.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has given any advice to  (a) his Department and  (b) other interested parties in respect of the Kent International Gateway project proposal at Junction 8 of the M20.

Paul Clark: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Highways Agency has not given any advice to  (a) other parts of the Department for Transport and  (b) any other interested parties, although they have held discussions with the developer, Kent International Gateway Ltd and the respective local authorities, Kent county council and Maidstone borough council.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Faber Maunsell Report on logistical aspects of the Kent International Gateway project prepared for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Highways Agency has made the assessment that the operation of the proposed development and the transport impacts may not be as forecast by the developer for the Kent International Gateway Project.

Roads

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which roads for which the Highways Agency is responsible have distance marker posts marking kilometres; what the cost of installing such posts has been to date; and for what reasons such posts have been installed.

Paul Clark: Distance marker posts, first installed on motorways in the 1970s, are small posts located at 100 metre intervals along the hard shoulder of all motorways.
	Driver location signs are blue signs located at 500 metre intervals also along the hard shoulder. They enable drivers to pinpoint their location and the emergency services to locate the scenes of incidents, more quickly.
	Following a successful trial in 2003, from 2007 onwards, driver location signs have been installed on 80 per cent. of the motorway network at a cost of 5.9 million. During 2009-10 signs will be installed on the remaining parts of the motorway network at a cost of 1.6 million.
	Both show similar information, however, the driver location signs are designed to be able to be read easily from the carriageway.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect of snowfall on the cost of road repairs since 1 January 2009.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency is responsible for the maintenance of the strategic road network. They have not separately identified or estimated over and above the cost of maintenance to the overall road network, expenditure on repairs incurred because of snowfalls experienced this year. The Highways Agency's experience is that such costs are small compared to overall maintenance expenditure. The costs are likely to be for treating safety related defects, which are treated promptly as part of the routine and winter maintenance programme.
	The management of local roads in England is the responsibility of each local highway authority. The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of the cost of repairs to local roads caused by this year's severe winter.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide funding for local authorities to develop indoor salt storage facilities.

Paul Clark: holding answer 26 March 2009
	 I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State's written ministerial statement of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 29-32WS. This advised that he had invited the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) to review the lessons learnt from the severe winter and to recommend what steps could be adopted by local highway authorities, trunk road authorities, producers of salt and other stakeholders to ensure the effective treatment of England's road network. A copy of the terms of reference of the review are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Issues relating to salt storage will form part of that review.
	UKRLG have been asked to report back by the summer, and we will present the conclusions to Parliament.

Rolling Stock

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1531-44, on new trains (investment), how many of the carriages to be supplied by Agility Trains for the contract for new inter-city express trains will be manufactured solely in Japan.

Paul Clark: Agility Trains has indicated that only around the first 70 pre-series vehicles, out of an order for up to 1,400, will be manufactured solely in Japan. They are committed to spending 70 per cent. of the super Express Trains contract value in the United Kingdom.

Rolling Stock

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the 217 new carriages announced for London Midland in August 2008 are in use.

Paul Clark: As of March 2009, 52 new Class 350/2 carriages are in service with London Midland. The remaining 165 new vehicles are expected to be in service with the operator by the end of 2010.

Rolling Stock

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the 1,300 new rail carriages announced by the Government in August 2008 are in use on the rail network.

Paul Clark: As of March 2009 the following new carriages are in service on the rail network:
	London Midland52 Class 350/2 vehicles
	First Capital Connect4 Class 377/5 vehicles.
	A further 253 new carriages are expected to be in service with these operators by the end of 2010.

Rolling Stock

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail users  (a) complained about and  (b) received compensation for overcrowding on trains in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. However, The Office of Rail Regulation publishes complaints data supplied by train operators to the department in National Rail Trends, which can be found at
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1863.

Rolling Stock

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported incidents of passengers being  (a) taken ill and  (b) injured on board trains as a result of overcrowding there were in the latest period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: There have been no reports of passengers taken ill as a result of overcrowding on board trains. In 2008, one passenger injury due to overcrowding on board trains was reported to the Office of Rail Regulation.
	Railway incidents are reported to the Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95). Under RIDDOR 95 the reporting trigger for a non fatal injury to a passenger is that they are removed from the site of the accident immediately to hospital.
	Incidents involving people being taken ill on board trains are only reportable if the illness or medical condition can be directly attributable to the operation of the railway; and the person is removed from the site of the accident immediately to hospital.

Rolling Stock

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1611-2W, on rolling stock, whether the additional vehicles for South Central and South Eastern listed in his Department's Rolling Stock Plan will be cascaded ex-Thameslink stock.

Paul Clark: It is not possible to be definitive in respect of the actual solutions for capacity enhancement for these franchises at this time.
	Discussions with the respective train operators (or, in the case of South Central, the bidders for the new franchise) are ongoing.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras there are in  (a) England,  (b) each region and  (c) each London borough.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport only holds information about the number of safety camera sites operating within the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007.
	The table shows the number of fixed speed camera sites (including average speed cameras) operating at 31 March 2007 within the national programme in each region and the total for England. Separate information for each London borough is not held. Different areas entered the national programme on different dates, and in many cases had established camera sites before joining the programme which are not shown in the table.
	Since 1 April 2007 the deployment of safety cameras has been the responsibility of individual local partnerships. The number of cameras in place since then will therefore be a matter for each individual partnership.
	
		
			  Fixed safety cameras in England  Number 
			 Avon and Somerset 66 
			 Bedfordshire 44 
			 Cambridgeshire 49 
			 Cheshire 47 
			 Cleveland 3 
			 Cumbria 4 
			 Derbyshire 47 
			 Devon and Cornwall 72 
			 Dorset 51 
			 Essex 82 
			 Gloucestershire 26 
			 Gtr. Manchester 108 
			 Hampshire 31 
			 Hertfordshire 57 
			 Humberside 4 
			 Kent and Medway 73 
			 Lancashire 271 
			 Leicestershire 15 
			 Lincolnshire 42 
			 London 439 
			 Merseyside 29 
			 Norfolk 11 
			 Northamptonshire 41 
			 Northumbria 42 
			 Nottinghamshire 25 
			 South Yorkshire 56 
			 Staffordshire 65 
			 Suffolk 8 
			 Surrey 21 
			 Sussex 55 
			 Thames Valley 214 
			 Warwickshire 20 
			 West Mercia 16 
			 West Midlands 147 
			 West Yorkshire 53 
			 Wiltshire 7 
			   
			 England total 2,341

Speed Limits: Cameras

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what year-on-year change there has been in the number of speed cameras there has been in  (a) England,  (b) each region and  (c) each London borough in each of the last 11 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport only holds information about the number of safety camera sites (covering both fixed and mobile camera enforcement) operating within the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007.
	The table shows for each year the number of speed camera sites in each region operating within the national programme, using the date established supplied by the safety camera partnerships. Figures for England are shown but separate information for each London borough is not held. Different areas entered the national programme on different dates, and in many cases had established camera sites before joining the programme which are not shown in the table.
	Since 1 April 2007 the deployment of safety cameras has been the responsibility of individual local partnerships. The number of cameras in place since then is therefore a matter for each individual partnership.
	
		
			  Camera sites by area  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset 104 189 228 247 247 247 247 
			 Bedfordshire 30 88 90 95 114 114 114 
			 Cambridgeshire 36 56 67 74 88 92 92 
			 Cheshire 18 26 54 64 75 80 80 
			 Cleveland 34 38 47 52 52 54 54 
			 Cumbria 0 0 35 35 39 44 44 
			 Derbyshire 45 73 108 123 127 128 128 
			 Devon and Cornwall 55 95 105 124 145 147 147 
			 Dorset 29 51 92 99 102 105 105 
			 Essex 117 126 159 168 215 220 220 
			 Gloucestershire 29 29 60 72 72 72 72 
			 Greater Manchester 67 79 135 153 261 268 271 
			 Hampshire 19 22 50 61 66 68 68 
			 Hertfordshire 23 23 51 63 80 94 95 
			 Humberside 0 0 64 77 81 81 82 
			 Kent and Medway 38 62 96 118 126 129 129 
			 Lancashire 63 150 268 338 344 345 345 
			 Leicestershire 7 65 77 83 83 88 88 
			 Lincolnshire 25 38 48 57 60 61 61 
			 London 294 305 323 352 403 439 439 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 24 46 51 
			 Norfolk 8 14 24 29 31 37 37 
			 Northamptonshire 26 28 35 39 77 84 84 
			 Northumbria 34 34 103 121 121 126 126 
			 Nottinghamshire 10 44 44 53 55 62 62 
			 South Yorkshire 35 112 119 119 119 119 119 
			 Staffordshire 54 55 65 81 98 98 98 
			 Suffolk 1 3 47 55 55 55 55 
			 Surrey 15 16 16 16 21 23 30 
			 Sussex 25 50 58 69 77 78 81 
			 Thames Valley 213 266 269 274 275 275 275 
			 Warwickshire 8 20 21 34 34 37 37 
			 West Mercia 0 0 40 53 56 60 63 
			 West Mids 97 100 116 141 155 161 161 
			 West Yorkshire 6 27 47 79 83 86 86 
			 Wiltshire 6 23 50 62 62 63 63 
			 Grand total 1,571 2,307 3,211 3,680 4,123 4,286 4,309

Transport: Departmental Responsibilities

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how Ministerial responsibility for cross-border transport between each constituency part of the UK is allocated; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The transport responsibilities of the devolved Administrations and those responsibilities reserved to the UK Government are set out in UK legislation. In addition, the interest of the Strategic Rail Authority in the Arriva Trains Wales franchise agreement was transferred to the Secretary of State for Transport and the National Assembly for Wales by a statutory transfer scheme on 14 October 2005. Subsequently the Secretary of State for Transport and the Assembly entered into an agreement to govern the detailed manner in which they would exercise the rights and liabilities formerly exercised by the Strategic Rail Authority under the franchise agreement.
	I work closely with the devolved Administrations to ensure that transport networks between the constituent parts of the United Kingdom are strengthened and fully integrated.

Underground Railways: Freight

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to enable the London Mail Rail tunnel to be used for transporting goods.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has no plans in relation to the Post Office Underground Railway system. Decisions on the use of the system are a commercial matter for the Royal Mail.

Waterloo Station

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Richmond Park of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 16W, on Waterloo Station, whether agreement has been reached with South West Trains on the use of former Eurostar platforms at Waterloo.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is working with Network Rail to extend platforms at Waterloo station and across the whole South Western network to increase capacity on some suburban routes from eight to 10 carriage trains by 2014.
	We are continuing to work with Stagecoach South West Trains to provide the additional capacity. These services are subject to concluding value for money negotiations. We expect these services to align with the Network Rail delivery date.

West Coast Railway Line

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the Chairman of the Office of the Rail Regulator to discuss the reliability of service on the Crewe-Euston route provided by London Midland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Secretary of State met recently with the Chairman of the Office of Rail Regulation, when the reliability of services on the West Coast Main Line was raised. The Office of Rail Regulation is giving particular attention to monitoring Network Rail's performance on the route.

West Coast Railway Line

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the reliability of the London Midland train service on the Crewe-Euston route on  (a) weekdays and  (b) Sundays.

Paul Clark: In the year to 28 February 2009 London Midland achieved an average punctuality of 86.5 per cent. across the franchise as a whole and 81.6 per cent. during the four weeks ending on that date. Performance on the Crewe to Euston route has been below this level.
	Improving rail performance is a key objective for the Department for Transport. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and London Midland to address performance issues. London Midland has also developed an Improvement Plan, progress against which is monitored regularly. The Minster of State, Lord Adonis, meets senior representatives of the Rail Industry every four weeks to discuss performance.
	Reliability of the London Midland train service on the West Coast Main Line route from Crewe to Euston has been a particular concern recently. Both Network Rail and the train operators on the route are being urged to seek improvements in punctuality and reliability.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Arms Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the evidence of the Economic and Business Minister to the Committee on Arms Export Controls on 21 January 2009, HC 178-i, how many licence applications  (a) have been made and  (b) are still current for head-up display units since 2002, broken down by country of destination; and how many such applications have been approved by country of destination.

Ian Pearson: The Government publish summary details of export licences issued, refused and revoked in their annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. This is broken down by destination, including a summary of the items covered by these licences, and where appropriate, the criteria against which the licence has been refused. Standard individual export licences (SIELs) are generally valid for two years from the date of issue, and open individual export licences (OIELs) generally for five years from the date of issue.
	The Government's annual reports, published since 1997, and quarterly reports, published since 2004, are available from the House of Commons Library and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/publications/annual-reports/export-controls1
	The latest date for which information is available is 30 September 2008.
	Head-up displays will be included in the goods description military aircraft head-up displays. The reports do not break down goods descriptions beyond this level of detail.

Arms Trade

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Sherwood of 8 July 2002,  Official Report, column 653W, on export licences, whether licences are still being granted for export to the United States of components for  (a) F-16 aircraft and  (b) Apache helicopters destined for Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 3 February 2009
	 The Government publish detailed information on export licences issued, refused and revoked by destination, including value and a summary of the items covered by these licences, in their annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. Information on export licences issued for incorporation before onward export is given separately for each destination in the Reports. The Government's annual reports, published since 1997, and quarterly reports published since 2004, are available from the Libraries of the House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/publications/annual-reports/export-controls1
	Any such export licence applications would be considered on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and all relevant information and circumstances at the time of the application, while at the same time having regard to the factors listed in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's statement of 8 July 2002 setting out the Government's approach to UK exports for incorporation and onward export.

Better Regulation Executive: Public Consultation

John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many policy suggestions have been submitted by members of the public via the tool on the Better Regulation Executive's website; and how many of these have been  (a) considered and  (b) implemented.

Ian Pearson: The better regulation website was upgraded in May 2007 so that official responses from the relevant Government Department are provided to the originator within 90 days and published on the website.
	Since that refresh there have been 622 suggestions submitted through the website from members of the public, SMEs and trade organisations to date. Of these suggestions 535 have been considered suitable for further consideration by Government Departments. Those not considered further include those with incomplete/false information, statements, commercial endorsements and other unsuitable material.
	Of the 535 suggestions considered further:
	26 are still under consideration by the relevant Government Department
	86 were responded to by alternative means. When the idea is not a better regulation idea Government Departments respond as a 'Treat Official' directly to the suggestion originator
	10 were responded to previously. When the same idea has already been put forward suggestion originators are sent the original response
	294 after analysis by the relevant Government Department were not considered suitable to be taken forward for the reasons set out in the individual official response provided directly to all suggestion originators and posted on www.betterregulation.gov.uk
	119 have been taken forward (approx 20 per cent.)
	The 119 taken forward include:
	Ideas incorporated into consultation
	Ideas requiring further consideration (after 90 day official response time)
	Ideas that were already being looked at by Government
	Ideas implemented (approx 25 per cent.)

British Bankers Association

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what meetings to discuss the economy  (a) the Secretary of State,  (b) he,  (c) other Ministers in his Department and  (d) officials in his Department have had with the British Bankers' Association in each week since June 2007; what the (i) location and (ii) duration of each meeting was; whether a record of each meeting was kept; who attended each meeting; what the cost of each meeting was, broken down by (A) administrative and (B) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competitiveness and Small Business is the only BERR Minister to have had a meeting with the British Bankers Association. There was no formal agenda. Many officials including the Permanent Secretary have also had meetings with them to discuss a range of subjects which are the responsibility of this Department.

Broadband

Andrew Miller: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will take steps to ensure that provisions for wider availability of broadband access, referred to in the Digital Britain interim report, include mechanisms for widening public engagement with Parliament.

Patrick McFadden: The Digital Britain Report is looking at how to deliver universal access to broadband and options for maximising participation across the UK as well as looking to ensure that public services online are designed for ease of use by the widest range of citizens. However, the way in which we in Parliament engage with the public on-line is a matter for Parliament. The Digital Britain report should help to make that engagement more inclusive and ensure that all citizens can access it.

Business Link

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many calls were  (a) received and  (b) answered by Business Link in each region in each of the last 12 months for which information is available.

Ian Pearson: The number of calls received and answered by Business Link in each region in 2008 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number 
			   North West  North East  Yorkshire  East Midlands  West Midlands  East of England  London  South East  South West  Total 
			 Received 36,636 34,562 63,040 38,326 61,160 60,000 44,928 65,544 47,134 451,330 
			 Answered 34,697 33,048 62,066 36,433 60,543 60,000 43,116 63,140 47,134 440,177 
		
	
	The data are not available month by month and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Data are unavailable prior to this date. Data for East of England have been rounded. Every call should be answered, in the first instance, via a customer service representative. During high call periods or after hours calls are picked up by an overflow or after hours service with callers contacted as soon as possible.

Business: Government Assistance

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to help small and medium-sized enterprises during the recession.

Ian Pearson: On 14 January 2009 we launched a wide range of measures to support businesses in the current economic climate, building upon the commitments we made in the pre-Budget report on 24 November 2008. Small and medium-sized businesses can find information and support at:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp
	or by contacting the Business Link Helpline on 0845 6009006.
	Since the Guarantee became operational on 14 January 2009 we have seen the value of eligible cases rise tenfold. These have now reached the stage where:
	the value of eligible cases has increased from 3 million in week one to over 31 million in week eight;
	the network of approved lenders has expanded from eight to 26, providing access across the whole of the UK; and
	as of 25 March lenders have logged over 1,600 eligible cases with a value of over 175 million.
	Our current weekly rate of eligible cases puts us on track to support 1.3 billion of lending to small businesses by end March 2010.
	The Capital for Enterprise Fund is a 75 million fund (50 million in Government funds and agreement to an additional 25 million from Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC and RBS) targeted at small and medium businesses that have exhausted their normal borrowing capacity. The fund will be delivered by commercial fund managers and they are undertaking diligence on the business they will invest in. 231 businesses have registered their interest in the Capital for Enterprise Fund, of which 42 businesses, with a funding requirement of over 35 million, have met the eligibility criteria and supplied all the required information.

Business: Government Assistance

Joan Ryan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of the  (a) enterprise finance guarantee scheme and  (b) working capital scheme.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 2 March 2009
	The Government's Real Help campaign publicises a range of support available to business, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee. Businesses may find out about measures offering real help for businesses including an initial eligibility check via the Business Link website at:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp/finance
	or by speaking to their local Business Link adviser on 0845 600 9 006.
	There have been more than 255,000 visits to the Real Help campaign page on businesslink.gov since the launch of the campaign. 59,023 of those visited the Real Help with Finance webpage.
	The Enterprise Finance Guarantee is delivered through participating lenders and we are working closely with them to ensure that they are doing all they can to promote the guarantee scheme across their branches.
	The working capital scheme will provide banks with guarantees covering 50 per cent. of the risk on existing and new working capital portfolios worth up to 20 billion and is therefore not an instrument that is available directly to individual businesses.

Business: Government Assistance

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme began to operate.

Ian Pearson: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee came into operation on 14 January 2009.

Business: Government Assistance

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government is taking to promote the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Ian Pearson: The Government's Real Help campaign publicises a range of support available to business, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee. Businesses may find out about measures offering real help for businesses including an initial eligibility check via the Business Link website:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp/finance
	or by speaking to their local Business Link adviser on 0845 600 9 006.
	There have been more than 255,000 visits to the Real Help campaign page on businesslink.gov since the launch of the campaign. 59,023 of those visited the Real Help with Finance webpage.
	The Enterprise Finance Guarantee is delivered through participating lenders and we are working closely with them to ensure that they are doing all they can to promote the guarantee scheme across their branches.

Business: Government Assistance

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations the Government has received from the British Chambers of Commerce in respect of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Ian Pearson: The monthly Small Business Finance Forum, set up in November 2008, brings together Government, banks and small businesses to have an informed debate on issues pertaining to financial conditions facing banks and small businesses, including on EFG, and an opportunity to openly raise concerns. Membership of the forum consists of the main banks, the Bank of England, the BBA and the key small business representative bodies including the British Chamber of Commerce.

Business: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many companies in Wales have  (a) applied for and  (b) received assistance under the Capital for Enterprise Fund in each of the last six months.

Ian Pearson: The Capital for Enterprise Fund was launched as part of the package Real Help for Business on 14 January 2009. Five companies located in Wales and who meet the broad fund criteria are currently being considered for investment. Investments will be made as due diligence, commercial discussions and legal agreements are completed.

Business: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many companies in Wales have  (a) applied for and  (b) received help under the Working Capital Scheme since its inception.

Ian Pearson: The Working Capital Scheme is not available directly to businesses. The scheme enables participating banks to increase the amount of working capital they can make available to businesses.

Capital Enterprise Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications have been made to the Capital Enterprise Scheme.

Ian Pearson: The Capital for Enterprise Fund (CfEF) is targeted at small businesses who have exhausted their traditional borrowing capacity. The CfEF will provide 75 million of equity to these businesses.
	As at 25 March 2009, there have been 1,013 inquires to the Capital for Enterprise Fund Registration Helpline with 311 businesses seriously exploring whether the fund may be of benefit to them.
	253 businesses have registered their interest in the Fund and out of these 51 businesses have met the eligibility criteria and have supplied all the required information.

Child Care Vouchers

Maria Miller: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether organisations which offer salary sacrifice child care vouchers are required to offer child care vouchers when employees are on maternity, paternity and parental leave.

Patrick McFadden: During ordinary maternity leave (weeks 1-26) an employee is entitled to benefit from all the normal terms and conditions of her employment except wages and salary. For women whose babies are due on or after 5 October 2008, this entitlement continues during additional maternity leave (weeks 27-52).
	During statutory paternity leave, an employee is entitled to benefit from all the normal terms and conditions of his employment except wages and salary.
	Examples of benefits that should continue include any company car, contractual annual leave or child care vouchers that are provided as part of the contract of employment. This is true, even if the benefit is linked to salary sacrifice arrangement.
	During parental leave, only certain terms and conditions of employment continue. This would not include any right to child care vouchers.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Patrick McFadden: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) does not have a policy which  (a) provides additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping or  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what contracts his Department has awarded to Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners since 1 January 2007; and on what dates  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have met representatives of Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners since that date.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 30 March 2009
	Central records indicate that no contracts have been awarded to Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners by this Department since 1 January 2007 nor have they worked on any BERR business since then. There is no record of Ministers or officials meeting Clemmow Hornby Inge Partners since 1 January 2007.

Construction: Billing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to ensure that payments to subcontractors of tier one contractors on construction projects funded from the public purse are made within 10 days of receipt of invoice.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 25 February 2009
	Government Departments are required to pay all invoices within 10 days and tier 1 contractors are required by contract to pay their invoices within 30 days. Departments are however, encouraging all their tier 1 contractors, including those on construction projects, to pass on the 10-day payment terms in the head contract to their subcontractors.

Construction: Manpower

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the proportion of workers in the bricklaying industry who are  (a) British citizens,  (b) nationals of (i) A8 countries, (ii) A2 countries and (iii) other EU countries and  (c) non-EU nationals.

Ian Pearson: This Department does not collect this information.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Patrick McFadden: This Department's current contract with our cleaning services provider states that all cleaning products used should be environmentally friendly as per Office of Government Commerce guidance.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) BlackBerrys and  (b) mobile telephones were provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Patrick McFadden: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department has deployed BlackBerry services to staff since 2006 through the Office of Government Commerce's mobile telecommunication services contract. From the records available the total number of BlackBerry services provided each year since 2006 has been:
	
		
			   Ministers  Special Advisers  Other Staff 
			 2006 0 0 60 
			 2007 4 4 306 
			 2008 5 5 336 
			 2009 6 5 430 
		
	
	 (b) The Department uses the Office of Government Commerce's mobile telecommunication services contract to provide official mobile telephones to staff. No detailed information is available on the total number of services that have been deployed to Ministers and their special advisers. During this period all Ministers and special advisers have had access to mobile telephones from a central pool of handsets operated by the ministerial offices. Information on the total number of mobile telephone services provided to all BERR staff each year is only held from 2008.
	
		
			   Total number of staff mobiles provided 
			 2008 949 
			 2009 921

Departmental Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) permanent,  (b) agency and  (c) temporary staff on contracts of (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months and (iv) 12 months or more there are in each directorate of his Department.

Patrick McFadden: We do not hold this information in the form requested and it could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Postal Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many items of correspondence his Department sent by  (a) Royal Mail and  (b) other commercial delivery services in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for the use of services other than Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: This Department has sent the following number of items via Royal Mail first and second class post over the last five financial years from its central London buildings:
	
		
			   Number  of items  s ent 
			 2003-04 526,654 
			 2004-05 341,761 
			 2005-06 271,396 
			 2006-07 194,831 
			 2007-08 68,923 
		
	
	BERR have not used another commercial delivery service. Information sent from BERR offices outside of central London is not available centrally.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what resource funds his Department has brought forward from its  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 budgets for use in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Patrick McFadden: No resource spending has been brought forward at the present time.
	Details of BERR's capital spend were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr. Williams) on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns reference 451-52W.
	No capital expenditure has been brought forward.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Patrick McFadden: BERR produces an 'Annual Report and Accounts', combining the Departmental Report and Resource Accounts. We estimate the costs of production and printing for the BERR Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 to have been 33,278. This figure includes design, typesetting and printing.
	The BERR Autumn Performance Report 2008 was published online;
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/aboutus/corporate/performance/servicestandards/performancereports/page24986.html.
	We estimate the costs of production, and printing of a limited number of hard copies, to have been 378.75.

East of England Development Agency: Equality

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of conducting equality impact assessments in respect of the East of England Development Agency in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Equality impact assessments form an integral part of the East of England Development Agency's project planning process, and as a result a disaggregated figure is not available.

Economic Situation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps the Government has taken to work with trade unions and employers to minimise the effects of the economic downturn on employees.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 23 February 2009
	 My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform meets regularly with Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC and other union leaders. BERR Ministers have also met with trade union leaders to discuss sector specific issues (e.g. automotive). Union representatives may also be present at discussions on company specific issues. Other Government Departments also work with trade unions and employers.

Electoral Commission: Codes of Practice

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 601W, on regulation: departmental co-ordination, whether the Code of Practice on Guidance applies to the Electoral Commission when it issues regulatory guidance that affects  (a) political parties and  (b) other voluntary organisations.

Ian Pearson: The code of practice on guidance is not intended to apply when guidance is issued to political parties by the Electoral Commission.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many firms have applied for funding under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme since its creation; and how much has been lent under the scheme to date.

Ian Pearson: Since the launch of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee on 14 January 2009, as of 25 March, over 1,600 businesses have made eligible applications for a value of nearly 175 million which has been offered, being assessed or processed.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications have been made to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Ian Pearson: Since the launch of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee on 14 January 2009, as of 25 March in total there have been 1,882 cases recorded on web portal inquiring about the guarantee. As of 25 March, over 1,600 businesses have made eligible applications for a value of nearly 175 million which has been offered, assessed or processed.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the monetary value of secured loans under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme is.

Ian Pearson: Enterprise Finance Guarantee was launched on 14 January 2009 and is available from 26 approved lenders including all the main UK high street banks. EFG enables businesses to secure loans of between 1,000 and 1 million.
	Since the launch of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, as of 25 March, over 1,600 businesses have made eligible applications for a value of nearly 175 million which has been offered, assessed or processed.

Farmers: Government Assistance

Tim Farron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for what reasons farmers are not eligible for assistance under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 23 February 2009
	The eligibility criteria are based primarily on the business type and/or loan purpose rather than the profession of the borrower. There are no EFG restrictions in relation to farmers. There are, however, eligibility criteria and restrictions in relation to agriculture and horticulture which are based on the relevant EU de minimis state aid rules (1535/2007 and 1998/2006).
	From 1 March 2009, the general EFG eligibility criteria in relation to businesses in the agricultural sector will be as follows:
	Activities related to primary agricultural and horticultural production are eligible for EFG, will be is subject to a lower de minimis aid threshold. The exception being:
	When the amount of aid is fixed on the basis of the price or quantity of products put on the market.
	The processing and marketing of agricultural products (beyond simply preparation for sale and packaging) is eligible for EFG, subject to the full de minimis aid threshold. Exceptions:
	When the amount of the aid is fixed on the basis of the price or quantity of such products purchased from primary producers or put on the market by the undertakings concerned.
	When the aid is conditional on being partly or entirely passed on to primary producers.
	Ultimately, however, decisions on individual lending rest with the lender. After making the commercial decision to lend according to their own criteria, all lenders use a common web portal to administer the eligibility criteria. Lenders also assess the extent of the 'grant equivalent' de minimis state aid to the borrower arising from the guaranteed loan and this is communicated to the borrower in the state aid letter.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much each regional development agency contributed to housing schemes in each year since 2000.

Patrick McFadden: Apart from the LDA, the RDAs do not provide specific funding for housing schemes. In some cases, RDAs will have contributed indirectly through supporting mixed-use developments but where this has been the case, housing schemes have been ancillary to commercial space and delivered as a secondary benefit. Therefore, to separate these costs on a consistent basis would incur disproportionate cost.
	The following table shows LDA figures. Figures from 2003-04 onwards include contributions made on behalf of Olympic Land Assembly.
	
		
			million 
			 2000-01 86.2 
			 2001-02 98.2 
			 2002-03 87.5 
			 2003-04 50.1 
			 2004-05 34.4 
			 2005-06 25.5 
			 2006-07 17.9 
			 2007-08 15.0

India: Overseas Trade

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much trade with India contributed to the UK's gross domestic product in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Due to the difficulty of differentiating between the impact of trade and other factors, it is not possible to quantify precisely the impact of trade with another country on GDP.
	The following table indicates the scale of UK trade in goods and services with India for the years 2004-08 as a proportion of GDP:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 UK exports to India: percentage of UK GDP at market prices 0.27 0.32 0.33 0.33 0.41 
			 UK imports from India: percentage of UK GDP at market prices 0.28 0.33 0.36 0.40 0.43 
			  Source: BERR Statistics and Analysis Unit

India: Overseas Trade

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) his officials last met the Chairman of the UK-India Business Council to discuss trade between the UK and India; on what dates the next such meetings are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: I last met with the chairman of the UK India Business Council on 11 February 2009. My noble Friend the Secretary of State last met him on 1 December 2008.
	Officials last met him on 10 March 2009 at a UK India Business Council Board meeting and will continue to meet him on a regular basis.

Insolvency

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the practice of pre-pack administration on the creditors and customers of companies which undertake the practice.

Patrick McFadden: Whether to do a pre-pack is a matter for the commercial judgment of the administrator, on a case by case basis. Administrators have a duty to act in the best interest of creditors and a pre-pack can often be the best way of preserving the business and jobs of the insolvent company.
	The Government have not undertaken research or made any assessment of the impact pre-packs have on creditors or consumers.

Insolvency

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many liquidations which commenced  (a) 10 or more and  (b) 15 or more years ago have not been finalised; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: There are 20,721 liquidations that commenced more than 10 years ago and have not been finalised, of which, 17,058 commenced more than 15 years ago.

LDV: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding has been provided to the LDV Group for investment in lower carbon technology since 27 January 2009.

Ian Pearson: None, but as with other automotive companies with a turnover in excess of 25 million, LDV is eligible to apply to the Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) which opened for applications on 27 February 2007.

Maternity Leave

Maria Miller: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of employed women who are employed and have no entitlement to maternity leave.

Patrick McFadden: All pregnant employees are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave.

Motor Industry: Government Assistance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress his Department has made on its scheme for administering loans from the European Investment Bank to companies in the automotive industry for lower carbon initiatives; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: BERR does not administer automotive loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB). However, the UK's Automotive Assistance programme (AAP) which opened for business on 27 February could potentially receive applications for the provision of guarantees for EIB loans to UK automotive companies.

Motor Vehicles: Government Assistance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had with  (a) HM Treasury and  (b) the Bank of England on action to safeguard the motor industry; for what reasons the Secretary of State said on 12 March 2009 that he wished that such discussions had gone quicker than they had; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: BERR Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with the Treasury and the Bank of England about action to safeguard the motor industry. In particular, Lord Davies has met with various stakeholders as part of his work on possible options to help improve the flow of liquidity to car finance companies. The Secretary of State's comments that he wished discussions had progressed faster reflect BERR's aim of helping viable businesses overcome the current difficult circumstances.

Motor Vehicles: Waste Disposal

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he plans to introduce a car scrappage scheme.

Ian Pearson: The Government have received proposals from the automotive industry for a scrappage schemewhere individuals are given a financial incentive for purchasing new vehicles in exchange for scrapping old, less environmentally friendly vehiclesas a way to increase demand. Government are considering the costs and evidence on positive and negative impacts; including the experiences in other European member states such as Germany.

Regional Development Agencies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Pre-Budget Report 2008, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of each regional development agency in allocating the 100 million brought forward from their budgets to assist regional economic development; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: As part of the pre-Budget report, RDAs were enabled to bring forward, on a voluntary basis, up to 100 million capital spend from 2010-11 to 2009-10 as part of the Government's fiscal stimulus. BERR and CLG are working with RDAs to agree the projects they might be able to bring forward. RDAs expect to be able to use most of the flexibility allowed.

Risk and Regulation Advisory Council

John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council has met since its creation; what recommendations it has made to Ministers; and how many of these recommendations have been implemented.

Ian Pearson: The Risk and Regulation Advisory Council has met formally 15 times since it was established in January 2008. In addition council members have led a significant number of other events and meetings.
	Part of the methodology of the RRAC is to work with diverse stakeholders in government and across British society to build consensus in public risk issues through workshop-based experiential learning. The council's focus has been on building that consensus rather than making formal recommendations.
	The RRAC's work has involved Ministers in the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health, and others, as important players in their respective fields. Case studies have focussed on risk aversion in policing, implementation of appropriate health and safety measures by small organisations, and the promotion of community resilience. The consensus on appropriate policy action, which emerges from on-going work facilitated by the RRAC, has been discussed with relevant Ministers and other key stakeholders including the heads of ACPO, HMIC and HSE, to allow better coordination, development and adaptation of new and existing policies where necessary.
	The RRAC's period of operation ends in April 2009. Soon after this the council will publish further information on the case studies, as well as a report summarising the findings of the RRAC. Specific recommendations may be published at this time, both in relation to areas studied in depth, and as a consequence of overarching conclusions the council have been able to draw on how government and society might better respond to public risk.

Risk and Regulation Advisory Council

John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what annual budget was allocated to the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was budgeted for, including on  (a) council members' salaries, (b) council members' expenses and (c) secretarial and administrative costs.

Ian Pearson: The Risk and Regulation Advisory Council was set up in January 2008 for a time-limited period, with its period of full-scale operation due to end in April 2009. The RRAC's only full financial year of operation is therefore 2008-09. As this financial year is not yet completed, the following figures are the best indicative figures available currently.
	The total annual budget allocated for the RRAC in 2008-09 was 463,000.
	 (a) The seven council members are unpaid volunteers, and receive no salary from the RRAC.
	 (b) Total expenses reimbursed to all council members in 2008-09 are forecast to be 1,400.
	 (c) Secretarial and administrative costs budgeted for the RRAC for 2008-09, comprised of staff salaries and associated costs for the support team in BERR, are 258,000.
	Other costs accounted for within the 2008-09 budget relate to the council's forum events, research, publications and public relations.

Royal Mail

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his most recent estimate is of the cost of modernising Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: Royal Mail has spent or committed 600 million on modernisation so far and expects to draw down the full 1.2 billion of debt facilities Government have made available to it over the next two years to fund its existing modernisation plans.
	However, Royal Mail needs to modernise further and faster if it is to cope with the challenges it faces. It will also need to find new sources of revenue by moving into new areas of business. It is clear Royal Mail will need more capital but in such a fast developing market it is not possible to give a precise indication of the amount, however it is likely to be in the order of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Royal Mail

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will put in place mechanisms to prevent onward sale of shares in Royal Mail which are sold to a preferred partner.

Patrick McFadden: It is expected that the legally binding agreements to be agreed between HMG and its preferred partner will place restrictions on any shares sold to the partner. The detail of these arrangements will be subject to negotiation with the successful bidder.

Royal Mail: Pensions

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many meetings the Chair of Royal Mail's pension fund has had with Mr. Richard Hooper since he published his report.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 2 March 2009
	Richard Hooper's review of the postal services sector was submitted last year and published on 16 December 2008. Since then, I understand that Jane Newell, chair of Royal Mail Pension Trustees, and Richard Hooper have met once, on 3 March 2009.
	This was a private engagement and not part of the review process.

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 397-8W, on Saudi Arabia: arms trade, whether there is any extant cover for  (a) the Salam Project and  (b) any other BAE Systems' military sales to Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 30 March 2009
	ECGD currently provides no support for any BAE Systems contracts in Saudi Arabia.

Small Business Finance Scheme

Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform by what means businesses in Banbury constituency may access the Small Business Finance Scheme.

Ian Pearson: The Small Business Finance scheme announced in the pre-Budget report was launched as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee on 14 January 2009 and is available from 26 approved lenders including all the main UK high street banks.
	Businesses across the UK have access to a comprehensive range of support through Real Help Now, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme and the Capital for Enterprise Fund. These schemes can be accessed through:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp

Small Businesses

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many meetings of the  (a) Small Business Lending Monitoring Panel,  (b) Small Business Lending Forum,  (c) Regional Risk Finance Forum,  (d) West Midlands Council of Economic Advisers and  (e) Joint Economic Commission for the North West have taken place to date; who the members of each of the bodies are; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting.

Ian Pearson: The SME Lending Monitoring Panel has met on five occasions and the Small Business Finance Forum (SBFF) have met on four occasions.
	The SME Lending Monitoring Panel discusses commercially sensitive data and as such no minutes are published. It is made up of officials from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Bank of England and HM Treasury.
	The SBFF is an informal body and minutes of proceedings are not published.
	It is comprised of UK banks (RBS, Barclays, HBOS, Abbey, Lloyds TSB, HSBC, Clydesdale  Yorkshire Bank), the Bank of England, the British Bankers' Association (BBA), key small business representative bodies (CBI, BCC, IoD, FSB, FPB, SEC, EEF, FLA) as well as individual entrepreneurs and small businesses. They also include representation from the regional development agencies (RDAs), the devolved Administrations, BERR's Access to Finance Expert Group, the Women's Enterprise Taskforce, the Ethnic Minority Business Taskforce, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and HM Treasury.
	The Regional Risk Forum has been meeting in the East Midlands since 2002. However the recorded dates of meetings only goes back to 16 June 2005.
	The following dates are the recorded dates for the East Midlands Risk Forum:
	2005: 16 June and 4 October
	2006: 14 February, 20 June and 21 November
	2007: 27 February, 26 June and 2 October
	2008: 5 February, 20 May, 7 October and 1 December
	2009: 3 March.
	The minutes of any meeting held contain commercially sensitive information and cannot therefore be released. The current membership of the group includes:
	
		
			  Member  
			 Steve Brown (Chair) East Midlands Development Agency 
			 Jeff Moore East Midlands Development Agency 
			 Adrian Fern Royal Bank of Scotland 
			 Angus Ferris Advantage Transition Bridge Fund Limited 
			 Barrie Egan Business Link East Midlands 
			 Chris Brown Bank of England 
			 David Browne Cooper Parry 
			 George Caldicott Advantage Transition Bridge Fund Limited 
			 John Griffiths Connect Midlands 
			 Jonathan Lowe East Midlands Development Agency 
			 Leo Magee Lloyds Banking Group 
			 Penny Attridge The Lachesis Fund 
			 Robert Cawdron East Midlands Early Growth Fund 
			 Steve Blount Growth Investment Network East Midlands 
			 Mike Bowman East Midlands Early Growth Fund 
			 Nick Wright East Midlands Early Growth Fund 
			 Paul Bevan Tenon 
			 Justin Brown Lincolnshire county council 
			 Rob Carroll Catapult Venture Managers Limited 
			 Karen Hickling Barclays Bank 
			 Graham Mold Catapult Venture Managers Limited 
			 John White East Midlands Early Growth Fund 
		
	
	The first meeting of the West Midlands Council of Regional Economic Advisers took place on 7 November 2008. Further meetings took place on 2 January and 2 February 2009.
	The members of the council are as follows:
	
		
			   Member 
			 Government Ian Austin MPRegional Minister (Chair) 
			  Pat McFadden MPMinister of State, BERR 
			  Ian Pearson MPMinister of State, BERR and Economic Secretary to the Treasury 
			  Sion Simon MPParliamentary Under-Secretary, DIUS 
			  Trudi Elliott, Regional Director, GOWM 
			 Advantage West Midlands Nick PaulChairman 
			  Mick LavertyChief Executive 
			  Richard HutchinsCorporate Director, Economic Development 
			 Key Business Representation Chris CliffordRegional Director, CBI West Midlands 
			  Simon TopmanChair, West Midlands Chambers of Commerce 
			  Barrie WilliamsChairman, West Midlands Business Council 
			  David CaroChairman, Federation of Small Businesses 
			  Martin WassellRegional Director, Engineering Employers Federation 
			  Richard BootChairman, Institute of Directors West Midlands 
			  Mohammed NazirChair, West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum 
			  Ben ReidChair, West Midlands Learning and Skills Council 
			 Trade Unions Gerard CoyneRegional Secretary, Unite West Midlands 
			  Roger McKenzieRegional Secretary, TUC West Midlands 
			 Local Government Cllr Roger PhilipsLeader of the Regional Forum of Leaders (Herefordshire county council) 
			  Cllr Ken TaylorChair, West Midlands Local Government Association 
			  Mark BarrowChief Executive, Newcastle-under-Lyme council 
			 Professional Services Norman PriceChairman of the Regional Finance Forum and Enterprise Board 
			  Richard BrennanChief Executive, Birmingham Forward 
		
	
	Minutes of these meetings are confidential.
	The Joint Economic Commission for the North West has met four times.
	It is jointly chaired by the Regional Minister, the right hon. Beverley Hughes MP and the Chair of the NWDA, Bryan Gray. The member organisations are:
	Government office for the North West
	Leaders' Forum (4NW)
	North West Development Agency
	Voluntary Sector North West
	CBI North West
	Federation of Small Businesses
	North West Business Leadership Team
	Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
	North West TUC
	Private Sector Partners NW
	NHS NorthWest
	Jobcentre Plus
	Learning and Skills Council
	Homes and Communities Agency
	Highways Agency
	North West Universities Association
	Environment Agency.
	The agreed actions from each meeting are available on Government office for the North West's website:
	http://www.gos.gov.uk/gonw
	and copies can be placed in the Library.

Small Businesses: Billing

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to ensure that Government departments, local authorities and health trusts are complying with his policy to pay small and medium-sized enterprises within 10 days;
	(2)  what assistance has been provided to local authorities and health trusts to enable them to meet the new payment target of 10 days for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 12 January 2009
	The Prime Minister set a new target for all central Government Departments to pay within 10 days on 8 October 2008. The Local Government Association and the NHS chief executive are leading on promoting best payment practice across local authorities and the NHS trusts respectively. The Department is working with all central Departments to identify and disseminate best practice.
	Central Government Departments will be reporting their performance against the 10 day target in their annual reports, mirroring current arrangements for reporting performance against the 30 day target. Performance will be measured for payment to all suppliers, regardless of size.
	We are also supporting business to business prompt paymentin November 2008, we published a series of managing cashflow guides and in December 2008 we supported the launch of a new prompt payment code by the Institute of Credit Management. Since January 2009, there have been over 46,000 downloads of the guides and over 150 companies have signed up to the code.
	On 13 May 2009 we will be hosting a prompt payment event for the FTSE 100 companies to secure their support for the prompt payment code.

Small Businesses: Brewing Industry

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many micro-brewery businesses were operating in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 March 2009
	Micro breweries are part of the Standard Industrial Classification (2003) manufacture of beverages category (SIC 159). Details of the number of businesses in this category over the last 10 years with at least one employee can be found at:
	http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/sme/
	It is not possible to break these figures down further to establish the number of micro brewery businesses.
	The ONS publication 'UK Business: Activity, Size and Location' provides figures on the number of micro businesses (micro businesses are those with 0 to nine employees) whose main business activity is the manufacture of beer (SIC 1596). The publication covers only those businesses that are registered for VAT and/or PAYE in 2008 and those who are registered for VAT in 2007 and earlier years. It therefore misses the smallest businesses that are registered for neither VAT nor PAYE. The data are available on a consistent basis for the past six years and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of VAT-registered (all years) and/or PAYE-Registered (2008 only) micro businesses (0 to nine employees) where the main business activity is the manufacture of beer (SIC 1596) 
			 2008 410 
			 2007 340 
			 2006 295 
			 2005 260 
			 2004 225 
			 2003 200

Small Businesses: Finance

David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to monitor the interest rates charged to small businesses on loans guaranteed under the enterprise finance guarantee scheme.

Ian Pearson: As with a commercial loan, any interest rates charged by the lenders in connection with an EFG loan is a matter for the lenders. However, there are currently 26 approved EFG lenders and borrowers are advised to 'shop around' for the best deal available.
	The Small Business Finance Forum comprising of UK's high street banks and SME representative groups agreed the establishment of a SME monitoring panel which monitors the availability, risk and overall cost of SME lending across the five major banks.

Taxation: Small Businesses

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what resources he is putting in place to ensure that applications for the Small Business Finance Scheme are processed efficiently.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 December 2008
	 We have appointed Capital for Enterprise Ltd. (CfEL) to manage our relationship with lenders and fund managers. Capital for Enterprise Ltd. review activity to ensure the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme and Capital for Enterprise Fund operates smoothly.

Taxation: Small Businesses

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which banks he expects to participate in the Small Business Finance Scheme; what steps his Department is taking to encourage such participation; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 December 2008
	As of 25 March 2009, 26 lenders have been approved to administer the Enterprise Finance Guarantee including all the major high street banks, providing access across the whole of the UK.

Taxation: Small Businesses

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what criteria there will be for small businesses wishing to access funding under the Small Business Finance Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 December 2008
	The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) is available to SMEs in the UK with an annual turnover of up to 25 million seeking bank loans of between 1,000 and 1 million. There are some sectoral exclusions mainly relating to state aid rules. The scheme is targeted at SMEs who are at the margins of viable lending and not to replace mainstream lending to SMEs.

Taxation: Small Businesses

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Small Business Finance Scheme will become operational; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 December 2008
	The Enterprise Finance Scheme (EFG) (announced in the pre-Budget report as the Small Business Finance Scheme) became operational on 14 January 2009. As of 25 March, over 1,600 businesses have made eligible applications for a value of nearly 175 million which has been offered, being assessed or processed.

Trading Funds

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to publish the Trading Fund Assessment.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 9 March 2009
	Findings and recommendations arising from the Shareholder ExecutiveHMT Trading Fund Assessment will be communicated by Government in the Budget.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to answer Question  (a) 243136,  (b) 243135 and  (c) 243821 tabled by the hon. Member for Winchester on 9 December 2008, on the Small Business Finance Scheme.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 23 February 2009
	I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave for questions 243136 and 243135 on 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 352W.
	I am answering question 243821 today.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  when he plans to answer Question 244004, on the Small Business Finance Scheme, tabled on 10 December 2008;
	(2)  when he plans to answer Question 244003, on the Small Business Finance Scheme, tabled on 10 December 2008;
	(3)  when he plans to answer Question 244002, on the Small Business Finance Scheme, tabled on 10 December 2008.

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  when he plans to answer Question 246108, on payments to small and medium-sized enterprises, tabled on 12 January 2009;
	(2)  when he plans to answer Question 246106 on payments to small and medium-sized enterprises tabled on 12 January 2009.

Ian Pearson: I am answering the questions today.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Absenteeism

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff of his Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost to his Department and (ii) number of working hours lost as a result of such absence; and what guidance his Department issued to staff in respect of absence on those days.

Paul Goggins: On 2 February 2009 32 staff in the Northern Ireland Office were absent due to non-medical reasons; and on 3 February 2009 22 staff were absent due to non-medical reasons. For the majority of these absences staff used their annual leave entitlement and there was no additional cost to the Department. In the remaining cases staff were granted special paid leave, in accordance with civil service terms and conditions. Staff who were absent due to the weather conditions were advised to attempt to attend if at all possible, but not to take unnecessary risks or put themselves in danger. The cost to the Department for the absences was 5,051.13 and 372.8 working hours were lost.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Paul Goggins: Cleaning in the Northern Ireland Office is generally organised under multi-departmental contracts. There are no specifications regarding the testing of cleaning products.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress his Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office submits its energy consumption data to the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel, as part of the Northern Ireland Public Sector Energy Campaign.
	The most recent data shows that our energy efficiency has improved by 27 per cent. from the 2005-06 figure and our overall improvement is 34 per cent. on the baseline year.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs) has had one laptop stolen in the last 12 months. The estimated replacement cost is 1,500.

Departmental Recycling

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Complete data on how much and what proportion of waste was recycled in each of the last five years are not available. However, all buildings are involved in recycling. A cross-departmental recycling scheme on the Stormont Estate, which covers a large proportion of Northern Ireland Office staff, shows a recycling rate of 38 per cent.
	We are constantly looking at ways to improve recycling rates, for example by providing recycling bins in each office, and new contracts are being put in place to extend the scope of recycling.
	The latest assessment of government's performance against these targets was published by the Sustainable Development Commission on 12 December 2008:
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/sdig2008/.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) staff and  (b) ministerial away days were organised by his Department in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was in each year.

Paul Goggins: The following table provides a summary of the number of away days for Divisions and teams organised by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in each of the past five financial years. It is not possible (taking disproportionate costs threshold into account) to provide a breakdown of the total costs for each year. The NIO's policy is however to ensure that away days have a clear business objective and are cost-effective. The Department places an emphasis on team development through volunteering, to meet our corporate social responsibility commitments.
	
		
			   Number of staff away days 
			 2004-05 20 
			 2005-06 23 
			 2006-07 25 
			 2007-08 20 
			 2008-09 26 
		
	
	The Department has not organised ministerial away days in any of the last five financial years.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training courses  (a) civil servants and  (b) Ministers in his Department undertook in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The following list details training courses provided for staff in the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months.
	 Course title
	Advanced Negotiation
	Advanced Presentation Skills
	Advanced SAP System Monitoring
	Advice on Preparation of Assembly Questions
	Assertiveness
	Basic Finance Process
	Board Secretary's Course
	BRM Practitioners' Forum
	Budget forecasting
	Budget Management
	Build on previous training
	Business Analysis Essentials
	Business Analysis Essentials
	Business Case Guidance
	Competence Based Interview training
	Certificate in First Line Management
	Certificate in Personnel Practice
	Chairing Meetings
	Child Protection Training
	Chronograph Training
	CIPS Foundation Diploma
	Cisco ASA Firewall
	Cisco CCNA course
	Cisco Network Device Management and Configuration Ciscoworks Network Node Manager
	Ciscoworks Course
	Citrix Metaframe for XP Course
	Citrix Presentation Server 4.5
	COINS Training
	Communicating in a Policy Environment
	Communicating with your customers
	Conducting Equality Impact Assessments
	Contract Management
	Court Awareness Training
	Court Familiarisation
	CPM Managing Effective Contracts
	CRO Training
	Crypto Custodian Course
	Crystal Reports XI Level 1
	CSR Construction Site Health and Safety
	Data Handling
	Dell Open Manage 5
	Dell SAN Data Protect (DSDP)
	Dell San Management (DSM)
	Dell Server Hardware Maintenance
	Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network
	Infrastructure Course
	Developing Policy
	Diploma in AAT accounting development
	Diploma in Project Management
	Display Screen Risk Assessment
	Effective Disciplinary Investigation Training
	Effective Ministerial Correspondence
	Effective Speech Writing
	Emotional Intelligence
	Employment Law and HR Management
	Encryption Installation and Best Practice Security Guidance
	Equality and Diversity Training
	Essential Elements of Policy Delivery
	Essential Media Skills
	Essential Professional Legal Skills Seminars
	Essential Records Management Updates
	Essentials of Equality Law
	Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
	Evacuation Assistant
	Event Management
	Executive PA Development Programme
	Finance for Non-Financial Managers
	Financial Management
	Fire Awareness/Evacuation Training
	Fire Safety
	Fire Warden Training
	First Aid Refresher
	First Aid Training
	FOIAdvanced Decision Maker Training
	FOIAdvanced Decision Maker training
	FOI and Data Protection How they work together
	FOI Refresher
	Food Hygiene
	Forensic AwarenessEvidential Opportunities
	Forensic Investigation and Incident Response
	Fraud Awareness
	GatewayCoping with change
	GatewayCustomer Service
	GatewayEffective Communication
	GatewayManaging Conflict
	GatewayManaging People
	GatewayManaging Time
	GatewayNegotiating and Influencing
	GatewayPlanning and Organising
	GatewayPlanning and Organising
	Gateway Review Awareness
	Gateway Managing Conflict
	Gateway Reviewer
	Glass Debris Searching
	HR Connect training
	HR Superuser Training
	ICT Infrastructure management (ICTIM)
	ILM Intro Diploma in Management
	Impact Assessment
	Implementing Data Protection on Dell Storage (IDPDS)
	Implementing Dell Enterprise Storage Solutions (IDESS)
	Implementing, Managing and Managing Exchange Server 2003
	Incident Response and Forensics Management
	Induction Training
	Intranet LIM training
	Intro to TRIM
	Intro to Word
	Introduction to Excel
	Introduction to FOI/DPA
	Introduction to Government Finance
	Introduction to Government Finance and Practical Financial Management
	Introduction to Infosec
	Introduction to Legal Aspects of Procurement
	Introduction to Private Office
	Introduction to Project Management
	Introduction to Purchasing Procurement Excellence Model
	Introduction to Risk Management
	Introduction to Westminster Course
	Involving the young citizen: better policies and better planning
	IOSH
	IOSH Managing Safety
	ISEBCertificate in IS Management Principles
	ISEB Certificate in IT Law
	ISEB Foundation in Certificate in Testing
	ISEB Foundation in IT Law 3 day
	ISEB in Information Security Management
	ISEB Risk Management
	ITILInfrastructure ManagementFoundation Level
	ITIL foundation course
	ITIL PractitionerPractitioner Certificate in Service Desk and Incident Management
	ITIL Version 3 Service Management Foundation Certificate
	Lateral thinking
	LCN, fibres and blood training
	Lead Investigator Course
	Leadership
	Leadership and People
	Leadership and People for Fast Streamers
	Leadership Development
	Leadership Development
	Leading Change
	Leaders for Tomorrow programme
	Leading Strategically
	Legal Awareness Training
	M 5115/8 Advanced Vista WorkshopBT
	M2273 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
	M2279 Planning, Implementing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory
	M2597 Planning and Deploying Microsoft SMS 2003BT/Sureskills
	M2597 Planning and Deploying Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager 2007
	M2780 Maintaining a MS SQL Server 2005 DB
	M5047 Implementing and Managing MS Exchange 2007
	M5047 Implementing and Managing MS Exchange 2007
	M5051 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Exchange 2007
	Macromedia Dreamweaver 8Website Design
	Managing Absence
	Managing Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager 2007
	Managing MS Systems Management Server 2003
	Managing People Problems
	Managing Safety
	Managing Small Projects
	Managing Successful Programmes
	Manual Handling
	Mind Mapping
	Minute Writing for Meetings
	MS 2279: Planning , Implementing  Maintaining a MS Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
	MS 2576 Implementing and Administering Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0
	MS Configuration Manager
	MS Excel Introduction
	MS ISA Server Training/Overview
	MS Project Management software course
	MS Server Clustering
	MS Small Business Server
	MS Visio
	MS Visio, Project Management
	MS2823 Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server
	2003 NetworkBT/Sureskills
	MSE2K7 Exchange 2007 Accelerated Workshop (5047,5049,5050,5051 combined)
	MSP Foundation
	National Community Safety Network
	NEBOSH HS Diploma
	NI Assembly Legislation Course
	NVQ Level 3Administration and Modern Apprenticeship
	OASIS training
	On BoardTraining for Board Members
	PageMaker/Photo shop
	Parliament, Government and Civil Service
	Parliamentary Questions
	Pathwayeffective communication
	PathwayImproving Customer Service
	PathwayManaging Change
	PathwayManaging Conflict
	PathwayManaging People Problems
	PathwayManaging Time
	PathwayNegotiating and Influencing
	PathwayPerformance Management and Appraisal
	PathwayPlanning and Organising
	PathwayVisions and Values
	PathwayImproving Customer Service
	Phone System Training Course
	Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
	Premises Officer
	Preparing for Top Management
	PRINCE2 Foundation Certificate
	PRINCE2 Overview
	PRINCE2 Practitioner Certificate
	Prince2 Practitioner Certificate
	Professional Policy making in GovernmentModule 1
	Programme Management for Fast Stream Course FSPR
	Project and Programme Management Overview
	Project Management Introduction Certificate
	Project Management Overview
	Protective Monitoring
	Quark Express
	QUIP team
	Records Management Certificate
	Regression Modelling
	Research Methods
	Resource Budgeting, Estimates to Accounts
	Secretaryship of meetings
	Section 75 training
	Security Awareness
	Security Guard Training
	Service Level Agreement Course
	Skills for Success
	SQL 2005 (M2780 Maintaining a M/Soft SQL Server 2005 Database)
	SQL05SQL Server 2005 Transact SQL
	Staff Inspection Techniques
	Statement Format training
	Statutory Rules Template Training
	Strategic Communication Planning
	Strategic Thinking
	Stress Management
	Subordinate Legislation
	Think on your Feet
	Train the Trainer
	Windows 2003 Clustering
	Windows Small Business Server Training/Overview
	Working with Ministers
	Working with the Northern Ireland Assembly
	Writing Dynamics
	The following training course has been attended by a Minister in the past 12 months:
	Action Learning through National School of Government

Reoffenders

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 998-1000W, on reoffenders, what the reasons are for the increase in the reoffending rate for people aged 18 years and over; and what steps are being taken to reduce the rate.

Paul Goggins: A small increase in the reoffending rate for people aged 18 years and over should be seen in context. The overall number of offenders discharged from custody in Northern Ireland in any one year is relatively small, and so any variation in the number of reoffenders can have a disproportionate effect on the annual rate. The recent increases in the reoffending rate of adult offenders discharged from custody represent 49 more reoffenders in 2005 than in 2004 and 59 more reoffenders in 2006 than in 2005.
	A cross-Government approach is essential to making significant inroads into levels of reoffending. Current initiatives under way include the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Group and a draft strategy for the management of women offenders in Northern Ireland. A learning and skills forum has been established in order to address deficits among offenders.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Cayman Islands: Hurricanes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of progress in post-hurricane reconstruction efforts in the Cayman Islands following Hurricane Paloma.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to monitor the situation through the Governor's office and the Cayman Islands Hazard Management Agency. Government buildings, schools and hospitals are functioning and nearing full repair. Hotels on Cayman Brac are expected to be open shortly. Housing repair is well under way and is a priority. DFID provided support to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to conduct a detailed assessment of economic damage and losses for the Cayman Islands government.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel was used by his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Gareth Thomas: The amount of electricity, oil and gas, expressed in kilowatt hours equivalent, used by our UK offices are as set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Electricity  Oil  Gas 
			 1999-2000 3,373,882 124,550 4,017,463 
			 2000-01 3,473,400 123,797 4,211,099 
			 2001-02 4,058,164 163,006 3,582,466 
			 2002-03 4,964,059  3,553,992 
			 2003-04 6,375,417 83,139 4,329,391 
			 2004-05 6,491,979  4,760,808 
			 2005-06 7,099,472  4,878,399 
			 2006-07 7,035,022  4,335,535 
			 2007-08 6,686,798  4,409,901 
			 2008-09 estimate 6,137,703  4,008,423

Departmental Manpower

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 17W, on departmental personnel, how many employment contracts were issued by his Department in the latest financial year for which figures are available for individual members of staff for which the total cost to his Department was over 100,000; what the monetary value of each contract was; who the recipient of each contract was; what the purpose of each contract was; and what the job description was in each case.

Douglas Alexander: During the financial year 2007-08, the Department for International Development (DFID) let one employment contract where the total cost exceeded 100,000. The monetary value of that contract 102,000.

Departmental Press

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to his Department of its News Department was in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: Details of the Department for International Development's expenditure are included in the 2008 annual report which is available in the Library of the House and online on the DFID website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/departmental-report/2008/Cover-prelims.pdf

Departmental Public Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what the cost of his Department's operations in Latin America in 2007-08 was;
	(2)  what the cost of his Department's operations in Africa in 2007-08 was;
	(3)  what the administrative budget for his Department's UK-based staff in 2007-08 was;
	(4)  what the cost of his Department's operations outside the UK in 2007-08 was.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the Department for International Development's 2008 annual report which is available in the Library of the House and online on the DFID website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/departmental-report/2008/Cover-prelims.pdf

Departmental Recycling

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in 2007-08.

Gareth Thomas: In 2007-08 DFID recycled 214.6 tonnes of waste, which represented 81.3 per cent. of the total waste produced.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: There are no costs to DFID in measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements beyond those incurred in generating regular management information required for managing departmental performance.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and which organisations provided such training.

Gareth Thomas: Training has been provided to Ministers on a range of issues including handling the media, as part of their induction and continuing development in order to carry out their duties effectively under the Ministerial Code.

Kenya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) budget and  (b) staffing costs of his Department's operations in Kenya in 2007-08 were.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development office in Kenya covers operations in both Kenya and Somalia. The total administration budget for the two programmes in 2007-08 was 3,714,238. Of this, 2,466,491 was spent on staff salaries, related medical costs, allowances, accommodation and training for both UK based and locally employed staff.

St. Helena

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 40WS, on St. Helena, what estimate he has made of the cost of the consultation on options for access to St. Helena.

Douglas Alexander: We estimate the cost of the consultation on options for access to St. Helena will be approximately 40,000. This includes costs of organising and managing meetings on the islands of St. Helena, Falklands and Ascension, and in the UK, and for publication and dissemination of the consultation document.

Sudan: Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received of the human rights situation of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo displaced by the Lord's Resistance Army to Western Equatoria near Yambio in Sudan in September and October 2008.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	Since mid-September 2008, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have renewed the intensity of their attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Southern Sudan region and this has resulted in approximately 11,000 Congolese refugees being registered by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Western Equatoria State. No major human rights violations have been reported within Southern Sudan. The Sudan People's Liberation Army have been contributing to the combined (South Sudan, Uganda, DRC) operation against the LRA. In South Sudan this includes service supporting civilian protection, in conjunction with the Southern Sudanese police.

Tanzania: Overseas Aid

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) budget and  (b) staffing cost of his Department's operations in Tanzania in 2007-08 was.

Gareth Thomas: The administration budget for the Department for International Development Tanzania Office in 2007-08 was 2,541,000. Of this, 1,565,180 was spent on staff salaries, related medical costs, allowances, accommodation and training for both UK based staff and locally employed staff.

JUSTICE

Care Proceedings

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many care orders were  (a) sought and  (b) granted in each month in 2008.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the number of care orders applied for, and the number of care orders made, in each month of 2008 in England and Wales.
	The figures relate to the number of applications, or the number of orders, counted by child. This means that if an application, or order, relates to two children then it will be counted twice. The figures cover the Family Proceedings Courts and county courts, but exclude the small number of cases dealt with in the High Court. By way of illustration, in 2007 the High Court received 3.1 per cent. of all care order applications in England and Wales, and made 3.4 per cent. of all care orders.
	Research undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Justice has identified that some cases transferred from a Family Proceedings Court (FPC) to a county court have been incorrectly identified as new applications. This will inflate the number of reported applications.
	
		
			  Number of care orders applied for, and number of care orders made, in county courts and Family Proceedings Courts in England and Wales during each month of 2008 
			   Applications made  Orders made 
			 January 1,033 522 
			 February 952 561 
			 March 1,224 620 
			 April 755 614 
			 May 674 478 
			 June 909 584 
			 July 1,061 622 
			 August 888 390 
			 September 969 620 
			 October 1,009 632 
			 November 1,199 566 
			 December 1,415 506 
			 Total(1) 12,087 6,715 
			 (1 )These figures are provisional, subject to updates made on the FamilyMan database.   Source:  This information is taken from the HMCS FamilyMan database and manual returns sent in by FPCs. High Court activity is not counted.

Crime: Economic Situation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the recession on  (a) re-offending rates and  (b) prison population levels over the next five years.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice's Ministers and Corporate Management Board are supplied with regular statistical information on both the nature of the economic downturn and the historic level of demand for the Department's business. However, it is not possible to produce specific forecasts of the impact of the economic downturn on either re-offending rates or the prison population and the behaviours which lead to crime. However, the Government are using a wide range of policy instruments with the aim of ensuring that the social impact of this recession is much better than that of the recession of the early eighties and early nineties.

Departmental Public Consultation

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Rights and Responsibilities Green Paper of 23 March 2009, what steps he plans to take to ensure that all sections of the UK will have a view as part of the consultation; and how long he expects the consultation to last.

Michael Wills: The Government wish to ensure that people across the United Kingdom can participate in the consultation on the Green Paper, Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework. People will be able to respond to the consultation in writing and online using the Ministry of Justice's People, Power and Politics website
	http://governance.justice.gov.uk
	and through social networking websites. The consultation is also being promoted through Directgov.
	The Government intend to hold regional deliberative events, conferences and seminars across the UK. There will also be academic research on key aspects of the proposals, a young person's version of the Green Paper and there has been considerable interest from parties external to Government in holding events on rights and responsibilities.
	Full consultation and debate about such a constitutional development will inevitably take some time. It is for this reason the Government have not at this stage set an end date for the consultation.

Departmental Public Consultation

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the cost of its consultation on the proposals in the Rights and Responsibilities Green Paper; and how many officials of his Department he expects to work on the consultation.

Michael Wills: The final cost of publishing the Green Paper, Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework was 16,986.21. The Ministry of Justice's website, People, Power and Politics
	http://governance.justice.gov.uk/
	which will host the online debate, has been developed and will continue to be supported within existing departmental resources.
	The Department is currently in the process of tendering for the delivery of regional consultation events for which costs have yet to be agreed. One of the key criteria that will need to be met by the successful bidder is to ensure value for money.
	Responsibility for delivery of the consultation is held by the Constitution Directorate, part of the Democracy, Constitution and Law Group in the Ministry of Justice. Given the wide range of subjects addressed in the Green Paper, it is likely that different numbers of officials will need to be engaged with the consultation at different times, in addition to their other duties.

Haverigg Prison

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has estimated the effect on the economy of  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency of the operation of HM Prison Haverigg in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: The effect on the economy of Cumbria and Copeland constituency of the operation of HMP Haverigg has not been estimated.
	However, the direct expenditure at HMP Haverigg, as published in the annual accounts of Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS), is as follows:
	
		
			   Direct Expenditure HMP Haverigg ( million) 
			 2007-08 14.1 
			 2006-07 12.6 
			 2005-06 12.0 
			 2004-05 11.7 
			 2003-04 11.2 
			 2002-03 9.8 
			 2001-02 9.2 
			 2000-01 9.0 
			 1999-2000 8.9 
			 1998-99 9.1 
			 1997-98 9.2 
			 1996-97 8.2 
		
	
	This represents the expenditure accounted for at prison establishment level only.

Haverigg Prison

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there are plans to  (a) increase the capacity and  (b) extend the site of HM Prison Haverigg.

David Hanson: 64 additional places were delivered at HMP Haverigg in 2007. There are currently no plans to further increase the capacity or extend the site of this prison.

Land Registry

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Land Registry received from sales of title  (a) registers and  (b) plans in each of the last three years.

Michael Wills: The following table reflects fee income received by Land Registry from sales of official copies of the register, title plan and copy documents in each of the last three financial years. Income generated by on-line views of registers, title plans and documents is included. Data relating specifically to title registers and title plans are not available.
	
		
			
			 April 2005-March 2006 45,464,250 
			 April 2006-March 2007 67,806,283 
			 April 2007-March 2008 77,833,257

Land Registry

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many properties registered with the Land Registry changed ownership in each of the last 10 years; and what the  (a) median and  (b) mean price paid in such transactions was in each such year.

Michael Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information on the total number of registered residential properties sold for full market value (FMV) in each of the last 10 years and the mean price paid in such transactions in each year. As these figures are extracted using Land Registry's price paid data, no information is available for any properties that have changed hands by other means. This question has been answered on the basis of recorded sales figures in England and Wales. Land Registry does not hold the information requested on median price paid and could not produce it except at disproportionate cost.
	The figures are reflected in the following table.
	
		
			   Mean ()  Total sales for FMV 
			 1999 94,846 1,205,304 
			 2000 108,164 1,143,585 
			 2001 119.275 1,260,565 
			 2002 138,200 1,367,877 
			 2003 156,154 1,278.139 
			 2004 178,542 1.289,382 
			 2005 189,580 1,068,745 
			 2006 203,708 1,331,233 
			 2007 219,408 1,276,841 
			 2008 217,010 642,796

Magistrates Courts: Repairs and Maintenance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the refurbishment of magistrates' court buildings in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: Altogether in 2008-09 47 million was spent by HMCS on maintenance at all courts, 27 million on projects to increase capacity and to rationalise the estate (and 75 million on major new builds). HMCS does not define 'refurbishment projects' as a specific programme of work. Among projects in magistrates courts from the maintenance and capacity programmes which could be claimed as 'refurbishment' have been:
	
		
			   Spend on refurbishment  ( million) 
			 Hendon Magistrates Court 4.4 
			 Camberwell Magistrates Court Refurbishment works 0.14 
			 Wolverhampton Magistrates Court 0.06 
			 Sheffield Magistrates Court 0.35 
			 Huddersfield Magistrates Court 1.5 
			 Other 0.84 
		
	
	Given the imprecision of the definition this list is not however exhaustive.

Magistrates: Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what targets are in place for the recruitment of magistrates who are  (a) female and  (b) from an ethnic minority;
	(2)  what  (a) funding and  (b) other incentives are provided in respect of the recruitment of magistrates who are (a) female and (b) from an ethnic minority.

Jack Straw: There are no national targets for the recruitment of (a) female or (b) black minority ethnic (BME) magistrates. Magistrates are recruited according to local need and should reflect the diverse communities they serve. Local advisory committees, who are responsible for recruiting and selecting magistrates, are allocated funding to recruit candidates in their respective areas.
	In 2008-09, advisory committees bid for and were allocated a total of 200,000 to recruit new magistrates. Recruitment funding is not apportioned specifically to recruit women or BME candidates. To achieve diversity, advisory committees are required to target their recruitment at groups under-represented on the local Bench.
	My Department has also provided substantial funding to specific awareness raising initiatives such as Operation Black Vote's Magistrates Shadowing Scheme, which was allocated 70,000 in 2008-09.
	There are now more female than male magistrates (51.2 per cent.).
	Of the 1,899 magistrates appointed in 2008, just over 10 per cent. were from BME backgrounds.
	Overall, the proportion and magistrates from BME backgrounds was 7.3 per cent. in 2008.

National Offender Management Service: Cwymbran

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what use is being made of the former Centrex site in Cwymbran now owned by the National Offender Management Service.

Jack Straw: The former Centrex site in Cwmbran is not currently in use other than for occasional training exercises by Gwent police. Following the decision in February 2009 not to build a new prison on the site consideration is being given to its disposal.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans the Government have to bring forward proposals to amend the law on the rehabilitation of offenders in line with the 2002 report, Breaking the Circle.

Maria Eagle: The Government committed to reform of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in 2003, following the recommendations set out in the report Breaking the Circle. We have since had to review the position in the light of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, based on the recommendations of the Bichard report, which made significant changes to the disclosure landscape. While the Government remain committed to reform, no timescale for this has yet been set.

Parking Offences: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for parking offences committed in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of findings of guilt for obstruction, waiting and parking offences in the Sussex police force area is given in the table from 2003 to 2007 (latest available). Centrally collected data held on the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database do not separately identify parking offences from other offences of obstruction and waiting.
	Court proceedings data are available at police force area level; information is not available for Eastbourne and East Sussex.
	Data for 2008 will be available in autumn 2009.
	
		
			  Findings of guilt for obstruction, waiting and parking offences in the Sussex police force area, 2003 to 2007( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2003 140 
			 2004(2) 196 
			 2005 173 
			 2006 131 
			 2007 138 
			 (1) It is known that for some police force areas the reporting of court proceedings, in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete.  (2) This is not the figure originally published within the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England  Wales 2004, which was released on 30 March 2006. The figure originally released in the above named publication was incorrect, due to a processing error.   Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit.

Prisoner Escapes: Research

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 243W, on prisoner escapes, if he will publish the results of the research referred to.

David Hanson: A copy of the report entitled An Analysis of Absconders in 2002 and 2003 will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	This report is now dated. The success in reducing absconds and escapes from prisons has meant that further research work in this area has not been a priority. The number of absconds has reduced from 1,115 in 1996-97 to 513 in 2007-08.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prison officers,  (b) prison governors and  (c) non-officer members of staff working in prisons were assaulted in the course of their work in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The information is set out in the following table. Assault data are not recorded in the form requested but is recorded at establishment level in four categories: prisoner on prisoner, prisoner on officer, prisoner on other and other (which may include non-prisoner perpetrators). The recorded incidents of assaults on prison officers are not completely exclusive to officers; establishment recording sometimes includes assaults on other prison staff in this category and may include managers and non-officer staff such as health care professionals and teachers, etc. The category prisoner on other contains few entries but these may include prison staff as well as visitors, legal visitors, etc. The category other will contain some assaults on prison staff by non-prisoners, for example, by visitors.
	The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents; they include all incidents recorded as assaults and may also include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact events and allegations.
	The information set out as follows is subject to important qualifications. The NOMS incident reporting system processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. Assault data is complex and the numbers need to be interpreted with caution. Information recorded as assault incidents may involve one or many prisoners as some assault incidents may involve more than one assailant or more than one victim. Additionally, in a proportion of incidents, only the victim is known.
	Reducing violence in prisons is a priority for Ministers, NOMS and the Prison Officers Association and they are collectively committed to working towards a zero tolerance approach to prison violence. Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy and since mid-2007, this has been applied to the public and contracted-out estate. A whole prison approach is encouraged, engaging all staff, all disciplines and prisoners in challenging unacceptable behaviour, problem-solving and personal safety.
	
		
			  Assaults on prison staff 
			  Classification  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Prisoner On Officer 2,763 3,091 3,124 2,871 2,753 
			 Prisoner On Other 215 201 197 208 195 
			 Other 149 217 199 156 137 
			  Source: NOMS Incident Reporting System.

Sean Hodgson

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assistance his Department and its agencies have offered to Mr. Sean Hodgson since his release from prison; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice through the National Offender Management Service funds the royal courts of justice advice bureau to run the miscarriages of justice support service (MJS). MJS provides advice on legal, housing, benefits and compensation issues. In its press release of 11 March 2009, the Criminal Cases Review Commission stated that it had brought Mr. Hodgson's case to the attention of the MJS and arrangements were being made to provide Mr. Hodgson with appropriate support and advice.

Supreme Court: Expenditure

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much had been spent on the project to site the Supreme Court in the Middlesex Guildhall building on the latest date for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: As announced on 14 June 2007, the estimated set-up costs for the UK Supreme Court are 36.7 million for capital construction, which will be met over a 30-year period through rental payments of 2.1 million per annum, increasing at a rate of 2.5 per cent. per annum, plus 20.2 million of other set-up costs (including provision of library, visitor facilities etc.). The only change to this estimate is an additional 2 million for repair work (as announced on 3 July 2008) and new security measures (where we will update the House with costs once we have the final figure).
	As at February 2009 the Supreme Court Implementation Programme has spent 14.3 million.

Youth Justice: Voluntary Work

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many volunteer members of youth offending panels there are;
	(2)  how many volunteers served as members of youth offending panels in each month since July 2007.

Jack Straw: The Youth Justice Board does not currently collect data on the number of youth offender panel members, who are employed by youth offending teams.
	However work carried out last year by the Youth Justice Board on a separate issue relating to youth offender panel member, estimates that there are over 5,000 panel members currently serving across the 157 youth offending teams.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of each document in his Department's file FPS 15/27 Unborn Children (Protection) Bill: Mr Ken Hargreaves; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: A copy of the file has been placed in the Library.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many late abortions were performed in pregnancies of 24 weeks or more in the latest year for which figures are available; how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed on each of the relevant legal grounds; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed by each of the six doctors who performed the largest number of such abortions.

Dawn Primarolo: There were 135 abortions performed at gestations of 24 weeks and over in 2007. The majority were performed under Section l(l)(d)(1) of the Abortion Act 1967. For confidentiality reasons, and in line with the Office for National Statistics guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics, the total performed under Sections l(l)(b)(2), l(l)(c)(3) and 1(4)(4) cannot be released but there were less than 10 (between zero and nine). For the same reasons, the information requested by each of the six doctors who performed the largest number of abortions at 24 weeks and over, cannot be released.
	(1) That there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.
	(2) That the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.
	(3) That the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.
	(4) That the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department have responsibility for the  (a) formulation and  (b) implementation of policy on abortion, broken down by pay band; what relevant specialist qualifications each holds; what other posts each has held to date; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are seven officials in the Department who, as part of their duties, have direct responsibility for the formulation and implementation of policy on abortion.
	
		
			  Official  Number 
			 Senior Executive Officer 1 
			 Grade 7 1 
			 Grade 6 1 
			 Senior Civil Service 1 1 
			 Senior Civil Service 2 1 
			 Senior Civil Service 3 1 
			 Permanent Secretary (Chief Medical Officer) 1 
		
	
	Each of these officials have been appointed to these posts following agreed procedures and taking into account relevant experience from previous posts held both in the Department and other organisations. Each meets the core competencies appropriate to their grade.

Childbirth

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of deliveries resulted in  (a) a baby with low birthweight and  (b) stillbirth in each lower layer super output area in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what percentage of deliveries resulted in (a) a baby with low birthweight and (b) stillbirth in each lower layer super output area in the most recent period for which figures are available. (267699)
	Information on low birthweight babies and stillbirths is not routinely published for lower layer super output areas, in order to protect the privacy of individual mothers and babies. ONS routinely publishes figures on low birthweight babies and stillbirth for local authorities in England and Wales.
	The table gives the percentages of births which resulted in (a) a baby with a low birthweight and (b) a stillbirth, in each local authority, in 2007 (the most recent year for which figures are available). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1676W, on departmental ICT, whether his Department has received a certificate in respect of compliance with the ISO 27001 standard for  (a) IT systems and  (b) services operated by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: ISO 27001 is the international standard for the security management of information systems and superseded the British Standard BS 7799. The Department chose to comply with BS 7799 rather than seek full certification against the standard for its information systems and has maintained this stance with ISO 27001. Internal Audit carried out reviews of compliance against the standard until 2007, when responsibility for this work moved to the Security and Assurance Team.

Euthanasia

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent reports he has received of allegations of patients having been given drugs by doctors to accelerate their death; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We are aware of the recently published study in the journal Palliative Medicine(1) which reports on a postal survey of medical practitioners about patients' deaths.
	(1) C. Seale End-of-life decisions in the UK involving medical practitioners Palliat Med 2009 23: 198-204

Food: Labelling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with his EU counterparts the adequacy of labelling on meat products which are injected with a mixture of salt, phosphates and water; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The European Commission is currently revising European food labelling legislation and published a proposal of a new regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. UK officials have raised this point during negotiations on this dossier and initial indications are that member states are generally in favour of further clarifying rules to ensure that consumers are not mislead where water, salt and other ingredients are added to meat products.

Food: Labelling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals in respect of the labelling of enhanced fresh meats to indicate if they have been injected with a mixture of salt, phosphates and water; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: If ingredients such as salt, phosphates and water are added to meat it cannot be sold as fresh meat. It must be sold as a 'meat preparation or product' and must be labelled to indicate that such ingredients have been added.
	The labelling of meat products with added ingredients such as salt, phosphates and water must already follow general labelling rules established at European Union level. Specifically, it is controlled by the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended) and the Meat Products Regulations 2003 (MPR) (as amended). This legislation requires that the name of the food and ingredients list reflects its true nature so that consumers are accurately informed and not misled.

General Practitioners

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 207-14W, on general practitioners: finance, what the name and postcode is of each listed practice.

Ben Bradshaw: The list of all those practices with General Medical Services minimum practice income guarantee comprising more than 25 per cent. of their total income amended to now include both practice name and postcode details are as follows.
	
		
			  Practices with Correction Factor greater than 25 per cent. of estimated NHS income (Characteristic data taken from Quality Outcomes Framework with 2006-07 data) 
			  Practice identifier  Practice name  Post code  Primary care organisation code  PCO name  Pr (patients over 65)  Weighted population  New registrations index  Staff market forces factor index  No of GPs 
			 5E1A81066 Park Lane Surgery TS211JS 50 North Tees PCT 0.15 3,684 0.98 0.98 3 
			 5A3L81639 Mangotsfield Surgery BS169DN 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 0.14 1,025 0.97 1.01 1 
			 5A4F82639 Dr. Joseph RM5 3PR 5A4 Havering PCT 0.11 2,524 1.00 1.01 1 
			 5A8G83068 Dr. N.S. Guram's Practice SE3 9YR 5A8 Greenwich PCT 0.03 1,582 1.01 1.04 1 
			 5ANB81671 128 Chelmsford Avenue DN34 5DA 5AN North East Lincolnshire PCT 0.08 368 0.98 0.96 1 
			 5C3F84033 Somerford Grove Health Centre N16 7UA 5C3 City and Hackney Primary Care Team 0.07 9,777 1.01 1.11 7 
			 5C3F84119 The Heron Practice N4 2NU 5C3 City and Hackney Primary Care Team 0.05 7,831 1.02 1.11 6 
			 5C3F84694 The Surgery (Brooke Road) N16 7LR 5C3 City and Hackney Primary Care Team 0.04 2,925 0.98 1.11 1 
			 5C4F84031 Jubilee Street Practice E1 0LS 5C4 Tower Hamlets Primary Care Team 0.12 10,492 1.00 1.12 7 
			 5C4F84107 Dr. Khanam E2 6LL 5C4 Tower Hamlets Primary Care Team 0.09 2,604 0.99 1.12 2 
			 5C5F84671 Katherine Road Medical Centre E7 8DR 5C5 Newham Primary Care Team 0.05 1,708 1.01 1.06 1 
			 5C5F84673 Esk Road Medical Centre E13 8LJ 5C5 Newham Primary Care Team 0.03 2,766 1.00 1.06 1 
			 5F1L83117 Park View Surgery PL4 6NU 5F1 Plymouth Primary Care Trust 0.17 980 1.00 0.96 1 
			 5GCE81633 Dr. Ha Ar-Rikaby's Practice LU3 2JG 5GC Luton 0.06 1,826 1.02 1.02 1 
			 5HXE85687 Acton Lane Medical Centre W4 5DG 5HX Ealing PCT 0.05 1,254 1.04 1.06 1 
			 5J5P85024 Westwood Medical Practice OL9 6TS 5J5 Oldham Primary Care Trust 0.05 3,406 0.99 0.96 1 
			 5J5P85622 Jarvis House OL4 1DT 5J5 Oldham Primary Care Trust 0.04 2,448 0.99 0.96 1 
			 5K5E84696 Peel Precinct Surgery NW6 5RE 5K5 Brent PCT 0.03 1,756 1.02 1.07 1 
			 5K7F83044 The Bloomsbury Surgery WC1N1PD 5K7 Camden Primary Care Trust 0.10 4,669 1.04 1.13 2 
			 5K9H83030 Broom Road Practice CR0 8NG 5K9 Croydon Primary Care Trust 0.09 3,147 1.00 1.05 2 
			 5KLA89012 Dr. Dixit's Practice NE387NQ 5KL Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust 0.09 4,563 0.98 0.96 1 
			 5L1J82663 Highfield Health SO171BJ 5L1 Southampton City Primary Care Trust 0.02 2,801 1.07 1.01 1 
			 5LCE87677 Imperial College Health Centre SW7 1LY 5LC Westminster PCT 0.02 5,647 1.11 1.13 4 
			 5LCE87691 Westminster School SW1P 3PB 5LC Westminster PCT 0.00 131 1.09 1.13 1 
			 5LCE87694 Buckingham Palace Practice SW1A 1AA 5LC Westminster PCT 0.05 258 1.03 1.13 1 
			 5LEG85705 Dr. A. M. Campion's Practice SE1 2BP 5LE Southwark PCT 0.08 4,176 1.06 1.11 1 
			 5LEY00454 Dr. R Sharma's Practice SE1 6ED 5LE Southwark PCT 0.05 2,285 1.03 1.11 1 
			 5LFG85711 Dr. R. N. Tiwary's Practice SE146TJ 5LF Lewisham PCT 0.11 1,479 0.99 1.06 1 
			 5LGH85685 Sai Medical Centre SW12 8DT 5LG Wandsworth PCT 0.04 1,349 0.99 1.09 1 
			 5LQG81694 Ship Street Surgery BN1 1AE 5LQ Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT 0.03 2,239 1.07 1.01 1 
			 5M1M85782 Southgate Surgery B29 7BL 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 0.09 1,294 1.04 1.01 1 
			 5M3Y00228 Luqman Medical Centre-Ahmed WS1 4JZ 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 0.03 2,327 1.00 0.96 1 
			 5MKM82607 Leegomery Surgery TF1 6PP 5MK Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust 0.07 2,504 1.01 0.96 2 
			 5LJB85634 Dr. Singh HD2 2YD 5N2 Kirklees PCT 0.07 2,273 1.00 0.97 1 
			 5EXC81112 Littleover Medical Centre DE23 6EL 5N7 Derby City PCT 0.14 2,204 0.97 0.96 2 
			 5EVC84112 Bramcote Surgery NG9 3HF 5N8 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 0.20 2,866 0.99 0.97 3 
			 5D5A82038 Temple Sowerby Medical Practice CA101RW 5NE Cumbria PCT 0.16 3,965 0.99 0.96 4 
			 5DDA82622 Sedbergh School Med Ctr LA105HG 5NE Cumbria PCT 0.01 270 1.09 0.96 2 
			 5G7P81620 Slaidburn Health Centre BB7 3EP 5NH East Lancs PCT 0.18 1,165 0.99 0.95 1 
			 5E2B82617 Coxwold Surgery YO614BB 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 0.29 615 0.97 0.97 1 
			 5KKB82062 Egton Surgery YO211TX 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 0.20 2,555 0.98 0.97 2 
			 5E6B81032 Hussain Aw HU3 2SE 5NX Hull PCT 0.12 3,088 1.00 0.96 2 
			 5GJE82627 The Maltings Surgery SG129HP 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 0.09 2,351 1.00 1.02 2 
			 5GVE82655 South West Herts Health Centre WD197SF 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 0.08 1,344 1.01 1.05 1 
			 5L2G82030 Marsham Street ME141EW 5P9 West Kent PCT 0.17 5,544 0.99 1.00 3 
			 5L2G82234 Phoenix ME1 3SX 5P9 West Kent PCT 0.13 4,056 0.99 1.00 3 
			 5JCC82111 Dr M. A. Bhojani's Practice LE113TU 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 0.00 8,029 1.09 0.98 3 
			 5EJC82114 Dr. U. K. Roy LE3 0QD 5PC Leicester City PCT 0.17 1,908 1.01 0.98 1 
			 5EYC82659 Melbourne Road Health Centre LE2 0GT 5PC Leicester City PCT 0.04 2,785 1.01 0.98 2 
			 5HTM87613 Brierley Hill Health Ctr A DY5 3EF 5PE Dudley Primary Care Trust 0.07 847 0.99 0.97 1 
			 5HTM87628 Dr. B. K. Prashara DY9 8BT 5PE Dudley Primary Care Trust 0.06 1,634 0.99 0.97 1 
			 5HVM87634 Dr. Basu, St. Thomas's Medical Centre DY2 7QA 5PE Dudley Primary Care Trust 0.04 1,019 1.02 0.96 1 
			 5HWM83670 University Medical Centre Keele ST5 5BG 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 0.02 3,297 1.12 0.95 2 
			 5DQM83732 Springhill Medical Centre WS7 0BG 5PK South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust 0.11 992 1.00 0.97 1 
			 5AGD81629 Bushfield PE2 5RQ 5PN Peterborough PCT 0.09 3,256 1.01 0.99 1 
			 5JHD81005 Newnham Walk Surgery CB3 9HS 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 0.07 7,750 1.05 1.05 5 
			 5JHD81017 279-281 Mill Road CB1 3DG 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 0.10 4,631 1.03 1.05 2 
			 5JHD81037 Bridge Street Surgery CB2 1UU 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 0.06 6,111 1.04 1.05 6 
			 5JJD81033 Over Surgery CB4 5NZ 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 0.13 4,105 0.99 1.03 4 
			 5GMF81141 Rowhedge Surgery CO5 7HP 5PW North East Essex PCT 0.05 7,641 1.08 0.98 5 
			 5GMF81746 Bluebell Surgery CO4 9YN 5PW North East Essex PCT 0.06 1,544 1.01 0.98 1 
			 5GMY00484 Hawthorn Surgery CO4 3GW 5PW North East Essex PCT 0.10 3,494 1.04 0.98 1 
			 5GRF81709 Dr. S. P. L. Das' Practice SS155DT 5PY South West Essex PCT 0.07 612 1.02 1.02 1 
			 5DTK84613 Dr. T. W. D. Anderson's Practice OX26 6XX 5QE Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust 0.04 6,525 1.01 1.03 5 
			 5DTK84621 Dr A. F. B. Gibson's Practice OX263HA 5QE Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust 0.05 3,149 1.00 1.03 2 
			 5FPJ81623 Broadmayne Surgery DT2 8ER 5QM Dorset Primary Care Trust 0.32 1,166 0.99 0.95 1 
			 5FML82017 Isles of Scilly Health Centre TR210HE 5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 0.17 2,133 1.02 0.93 2 
			 National Average 0.15 6,380 1.00 1.00 3.46 
		
	
	
		
			  Practice identifier  Practice name  Post code  Primary care organisation code  PCO name  Nursing and residential home patients index  Practice population Q2 2006-07  Standardised limited long-standing illness  Standardised mortality rate under 65 
			 5E1A81066 Park Lane Surgery TS211JS 50 North Tees PCT 1.00 3,968 88.49 65.47 
			 5A3L81639 Mangotsfield Surgery BS169DN 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 1.00 1,274 83.71 68.45 
			 5A4F82639 Dr. Joseph RM5 3PR 5A4 Havering PCT 1.00 2,814 93.45 97.64 
			 5A8G83068 Dr. N.S. Guram's Practice SE3 9YR 5A8 Greenwich PCT 1.00 1,805 120.78 130.44 
			 5ANB81671 128 Chelmsford Avenue DN34 5DA 5AN North East Lincolnshire PCT 1.00 424 115.30 137.48 
			 5C3F84033 Somerford Grove Health Centre N16 7UA 5C3 City and Hackney Primary Care Team 1.00 10,165 126.76 121.52 
			 5C3F84119 The Heron Practice N4 2NU 5C3 City and Hackney Primary Care Team 1.00 8,158 123.22 121.82 
			 5C3F84694 The Surgery (Brooke Road) N16 7LR 5C3 City and Hackney Primary Care Team 1.00 3,328 127.57 122.79 
			 5C4F84031 Jubilee Street Practice E1 0LS 5C4 Tower Hamlets Primary Care Team 1.00 9,720 133.09 126.46 
			 5C4F84107 Dr. Khanam E2 6LL 5C4 Tower Hamlets Primary Care Team 1.00 2,563 134.99 145.41 
			 5C5F84671 Katherine Road Medical Centre E7 8DR 5C5 Newham Primary Care Team 1.00 1,948 126.25 123.52 
			 5C5F84673 Esk Road Medical Centre E13 8LJ 5C5 Newham Primary Care Team 1.00 3,638 126.09 133.67 
			 5F1L83117 Park View Surgery PL4 6NU 5F1 Plymouth Primary Care Trust 1.00 992 113.99 99.77 
			 5GCE81633 Dr. H. A. Ar-Rikaby's Practice LU3 2JG 5GC Luton 1.00 2,191 96.87 102.21 
			 5HXE85687 Acton Lane Medical Centre W4 5DG 5HX Ealing PCT 1.00 1,606 83.78 88.85 
			 5J5P85024 Westwood Medical Practice OL9 6TS 5J5 Oldham Primary Care Trust 1.00 3,548 141.84 178.74 
			 5J5P85622 Jarvis House OL4 1DT 5J5 Oldham Primary Care Trust 1.00 2,544 145.34 186.32 
			 5K5E84696 Peel Precinct Surgery NW6 5RE 5K5 Brent PCT 1.00 1,978 116.40 135.77 
			 5K7F83044 The Bloomsbury Surgery WC1N1PD 5K7 Camden Primary Care Trust 1.00 4,233 118.23 157.45 
			 5K9H83030 Broom Road Practice CR0 8NG 5K9 Croydon Primary Care Trust 1.00 3,900 81.36 82.27 
			 5KLA89012 Dr. Dixit's Practice NE387NQ 5KL Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust 1.00 4,901 122.84 97.31 
			 5L1J82663 Highfield Health SO171BJ 5L1 Southampton City Primary Care Trust 1.00 3,726 100.34 107.64 
			 5LCE87677 Imperial College Health Centre SW7 1LY 5LC Westminster PCT 1.00 8,856 73.85 78.62 
			 5LCE87691 Westminster School SW1P3PB 5LC Westminster PCT 1.00 208 89.59 116.65 
			 5LCE87694 Buckingham Palace Practice SW1A1AA 5LC Westminster PCT 1.00 294 83.63 101.91 
			 5LEG85705 Dr. A. M. Campion's Practice SE1 2BP 5LE Southwark PCT 1.01 4,317 101.06 112.14 
			 5LEY00454 Dr. R Sharma's Practice SE1 6ED 5LE Southwark PCT 1.00 2,525 109.44 129.53 
			 5LFG85711 Dr. R. N. Tiwary's Practice SE146TJ 5LF Lewisham PCT 1.00 1,524 105.43 138.85 
			 5LGH85685 Sai Medical Centre SW128DT 5LG Wandsworth PCT 1.00 1,864 95.35 106.14 
			 5LQG81694 Ship Street Surgery BN1 1AE 5LQ Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT 1.00 2,626 103.48 149.61 
			 5M1M85782 Southgate Surgery B29 7BL 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 1.01 1,472 100.68 99.40 
			 5M3Y00228 Luqman Medical Centre-Ahmed WS1 4JZ 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 1.00 2,741 121.99 133.46 
			 5MKM82607 Leegomery Surgery TF1 6PP 5MK Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust 1.00 2,917 114.37 102.23 
			 5LJB85634 Dr. Singh HD2 2YD 5N2 Kirklees PCT 1.00 2,578 109.37 126.36 
			 5EXC81112 Littleover Medical Centre DE236EL 5N7 Derby City PCT 1.00 2,393 99.28 94.44 
			 5EVC84112 Bramcote Surgery NG9 3HF 5N8 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 1.00 3,147 85.31 69.12 
			 5D5A82038 Temple Sowerby Medical Practice CA101RW 5NE Cumbria PCT 1.00 3,831 82.87 91.59 
			 5DDA82622 Sedbergh School Med Ctr LA105HG 5NE Cumbria PCT 1.00 518 79.78 48.23 
			 5G7P81620 Slaidburn Health Centre BB7 3EP 5NH East Lancs PCT 1.00 1,076 82.52 98.27 
			 5E2B82617 Coxwold Surgery YO614BB 5NV North Yorkshire And York PCT 1.00 538 71.86 63.06 
			 5KKB82062 Egton Surgery YO211TX 5NV North Yorkshire And York PCT 1.00 2,318 95.61 88.92 
			 5E6B81032 Hussain A.W. HU3 2SE 5NX Hull PCT 1.00 2,851 128.60 175.00 
			 5GJE82627 The Maltings Surgery SG129HP 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 1.00 2,921 74.07 76.85 
			 5GVE82655 South West Herts Health Centre WD197SF 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 1.00 1,393 101.92 109.61 
			 5L2G82030 Marsham Street ME141EW 5P9 West Kent PCT 1.00 5,816 88.61 93.46 
			 5L2G82234 Phoenix ME1 3SX 5P9 West Kent PCT 1.00 4,252 84.45 95.38 
			 5JCC82111 Dr M. A. Bhojani's Practice LE113TU 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 1.00 13,563 93.51 91.79 
			 5EJC82114 Dr. U. K. Roy LE3 0QD 5PC Leicester City PCT 1.01 1,843 108.04 116.77 
			 5EYC82659 Melbourne Road Health Centre LE2 0GT 5PC Leicester City PCT 1.00 3,225 126.95 128.46 
			 5HTM87613 Brierley Hill Health Ctr A DY5 3EF 5PE Dudley Primary Care Trust 1.00 1,024 110.63 111.44 
			 5HTM87628 Dr. B. K. Prashara DY9 8BT 5PE Dudley Primary Care Trust 1.00 1,958 114.97 118.50 
			 5HVM87634 Dr. Basu, St. Thomas's Medical Centre DY2 7QA 5PE Dudley Primary Care Trust 1.00 1,220 124.59 114.34 
			 5HWM83670 University Medical Centre Keele ST5 5BG 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 1.00 4,562 105.11 74.95 
			 5DQM83732 Springhill Medical Centre WS7 0BG 5PK South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust 1.00 1,144 95.19 96.57 
			 5AGD81629 Bushfield PE2 5RQ 5PN Peterborough PCT 1.00 3,576 99.94 102.45 
			 5JHD81005 Newnham Walk Surgery CB3 9HS 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 1.00 10,919 67.63 53.71 
			 5JHD81017 279-281 Mill Road CB1 3DG 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 1.00 5,310 86.53 86.89 
			 5JHD81037 Bridge Street Surgery CB2 1UU 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 1.00 8,276 76.81 73.43 
			 5JJD81033 Over Surgery CB4 5NZ 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 1.00 4,413 68.87 68.63 
			 5GMF81141 Rowhedge Surgery CO5 7HP 5PW North East Essex PCT 1.00 10,042 96.44 73.92 
			 5GMF81746 Bluebell Surgery CO4 9YN 5PW North East Essex PCT 1.00 1,945 96.65 93.22 
			 5GMY00484 Hawthorn Surgery CO4 3GW 5PW North East Essex PCT 1.00 3,760 118.37 99.87 
			 5GRF81709 Dr. S. P. L. Das' Practice SS155DT 5PY South West Essex PCT 1.00 722 94.03 91.73 
			 5DTK84613 Dr. T. W. D. Anderson's Practice OX266XX 5QE Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust 1.00 9,217 65.10 64.02 
			 5DTK84621 Dr A. F. B. Gibson's Practice OX263HA 5QE Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust 1.00 4,335 66.35 70.82 
			 5FPJ81623 Broadmayne Surgery DT2 8ER 5QM Dorset Primary Care Trust 1.00 1,040 81.74 58.43 
			 5FML82017 Isles of Scilly Health Centre TR210HE 5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 1.00 2,465 65.12 60.02 
			 National Average 1.00 6,380 102.51 106.25 
			 Note: These practices listed above whose minimum practice income guarantees comprises more than 25% of total NHS income have been calculated on a combination of; Global Sum, Correction Factor and Quality Outcomes Framework income and includes an estimate of their Enhanced Services income. It does not include income from other audited datastreams e.g. Information Management  Technology, Premises, Seniority and Locum payments

Health Professions: Disclosure of Information

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the General Medical Council,  (b) the Royal College of Nursing,  (c) the British Medical Association and  (d) other organisations representing the allied medical professions on the implementation and practice of whistleblowing policies.

Ann Keen: On 20 March 2009, the Department published the report of the Tackling Concerns Locally Working Group, which has been advising Ministers on improvements to clinical governance in the national health service. A copy has been placed in the Library. The group included representatives of the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, the General Optical Council and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The report recommended that there should be better support for the public and for staff in health care organisations who wish to raise concerns about care. The Department is currently considering the report.

Health Service Commissioner

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008  (a) has had and  (b) is expected to have on the workload of the Health Service Ombudsman.

Ann Keen: These are matters for the health service ombudsman.

Health Service Commissioner

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has requested additional funding from HM Treasury in relation to the Health Ombudsman's new role in the NHS complaints process.

Ann Keen: None.

Health: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the Independent Review Panel's report on A Picture of Health for South East London; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Secretary of State for Health received the Independent Reconfiguration Panel's (IRP) report into A Picture of Health (proposals for changes to the distribution of services between Bromley Hospitals, Queen Elizabeth Hospitals Greenwich, Queen Mary's Hospitals Sidcup and University Hospitals Lewisham and the associated development of community services) in South East London on 31 March 2009. He will now carefully consider the panel's recommendations and respond in due course.

HIV Infection: Charities

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department provided for  (a) the Eileen Trust and  (b) the MacFarlane Trust in 2008-09.

Dawn Primarolo: The funding from the Department for the Macfarlane Trust and Eileen Trust in 2008-09 was 3,754,000 and 178,000 respectively.

Hospitals: Crimes of Violence

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports of physical attacks against NHS hospital staff there were in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions were made in respect of each which resulted in conviction.

Ann Keen: For information on the numbers of reported physical assaults against national health service staff, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 20 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1378W.
	Information on the number of prosecutions following assaults against NHS hospital staff is not currently available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For information on criminal sanctions following cases of physical assault against NHS staff, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 246W.

Hospitals: Food

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what percentage of hospitals in each NHS organisation recorded in ERIC returns clinical ward activity was suspended during mealtimes except in emergency or very high dependency cases to enable ward-based staff to focus on the service of meals and assistance to patients in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The Department has collected annual data from national health service trusts through the Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) relating to:
	The percentage of wards in the hospital where clinical ward activity (except in emergency or very high dependency cases) is suspended during mealtimes so as to enable ward based staff to focus on the service of meals and assistance to patients.
	The data for 2007-08 have been placed in the Library.
	The information provided has been supplied by the NHS and had not been amended centrally. The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation. Provision of this data was mandatory for NHS Trusts but voluntary for foundation trusts, therefore it will not be complete.
	The protected mealtimes initiative (PMI) was introduced by NHS Estates in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing in 2004, as part of the Better Hospital Food programme. These are periods of time when all non-urgent clinical activity stops, allowing the patient to eat without interruption.
	When NHS Estates closed in September 2005, lead responsibility for the protected mealtimes initiative passed to the national patient safety agency (NPSA). The NPSA has been working with key stakeholders in the development of a toolkit to assist NHS organisations in the implementation of the '10 Key Characteristics of Good Nutritional Care'. A fact sheet relating to protected mealtimes was developed and launched in April 2008 and the NPSA will be launching the complete toolkit later this year.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many girls, of each age, have been vaccinated against human Papilloma virus in  (a) Sunderland and  (b) England.

Dawn Primarolo: The Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is a three-dose schedule offered over a period of six months, in a vaccination programme which started in September 2008. Provisional data at the end of February 2009 is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Cohort 1: Routine 12-13 year olds school year 8 
			Doses given since 1 September 2008 
			Dose 1  Dose 1 and 2  All 3 Doses 
			   Total  n umber in  Cohort 1  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) 1,619 1,502 92.8 1468 90.7 0 0 
			 England 308,000 259,554 84.3 240,950 78.2 810 0.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Cohort 2: Catch-up 17-18 y ear olds school year 13 
			Doses given since 1 September 2008 
			Dose 1  Dose 1 and 2  All 3 Doses 
			   Total number in  Cohort 2  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 1,811 595 32.9 79 4.4 0 0 
			 England 322,058 129,627 40.2 88,397 27.4 247 0.1 
		
	
	HPV vaccine uptake information is provided monthly by PCTs and is published on the website:
	www.immunisation.nhs.uk
	The provisional data for all PCTs in England at the end of February 2009 has been placed in the Library.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the illustrative assessment of the impact of an influenza pandemic on the economy referred to on pages 21 to 22 of his Department's national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates of the economic impact of influenza pandemic on the economy are conditional on what assumptions are made regarding the severity and duration of the pandemic.

Learning Disability: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from local authorities on the transfer of learning disability commissioning funds from primary care trusts to local authorities.

Phil Hope: All areas (primary care trusts and local authorities) have made a return. Some areas made provisional returns by the 1 December 2008 deadline. 70 per cent. made complete or nearly complete returns. We will consider all replies that have been submitted by the expiry date of 31 March 2009.

Maternity Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which primary care trusts his Department has  (a) sought and  (b) received assurances in relation to the delivery of the guarantees made in Maternity Matters by December 2009.

Ann Keen: As part of the planning process for 2009-10, the Department has written to all strategic health authorities (SHAs) seeking assurances about the delivery by the end of 2009 of the Maternity Matters commitments. This information is currently being reviewed with SHAs.
	A copy of Maternity Matters has already been placed in the Library.

Mental Health: Cannabis

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) teenagers and  (b) people were admitted to psychiatric units for mental health problems associated with cannabis use in each of the last 15 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on the number of finished admission episodes as a result of cannabis use for teenagers (aged 12 to 19 years) and those persons aged over 20 years for each year since 1995-96 are in the following table.
	
		
			  Count of finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids and where consultant main specialty was a mental health specialty: activity in national health service hospitals and NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Age Group 
			   Aged 12-19  Aged 20 and over  Age not known  All ages 
			 1995-96 66 419 4 489 
			 1996-97 58 380 3 441 
			 1997-98 74 342 1 417 
			 1998-99 86 448 1 535 
			 1999-2000 89 423  512 
			 2000-01 87 407  494 
			 2001-02 111 472  583 
			 2002-03 103 515  618 
			 2003-04 148 614  762 
			 2004-05 133 619  752 
			 2005-06 122 663 1 786 
			 2006-07 97 505 14 616 
			 2007-08 99 480  579 
			  Notes: 1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis): The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) dataset and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. ICD10 Code used = F12 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids (including cannabis). 3. Consultant Main Specialty: This defines the specialty under which the consultant responsible for the care of the patient at that time is registered. Care is needed when analysing HES data by specialty, or by groups of specialties (such as 'acute'). Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other patient or service information. 4. Counts are restricted to the following consultant main specialties: 710 = Mental illness 711 = Child and adolescent psychiatry 712 = Forensic psychiatry 713 = Psychotherapy 715 = Old age psychiatry (available from 1990-91)  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

NHS: Civil Proceedings

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to reduce the amount of money available to the NHS in respect of legal actions.

Ann Keen: The Department has not issued guidance to primary care trusts on their expenditure on legal proceedings. Lord Justice Jackson is currently undertaking a review of the costs of civil litigation to ensure that they are appropriate and we will consider the results of the review when they are published later this year.

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of follow-up care for procedures carried out  (a) privately and  (b) abroad in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect the information requested. Some national health service organisations may collect this data at a local level, so the hon. Member may wish to approach them for further information.

NHS: North Yorkshire

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the  (a) target and  (b) actual allocation for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust is in 2009-10;
	(2)  if he will estimate the allocation to North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust in 2008-09 under the terms of the funding formula adopted for 2009-10.

Ben Bradshaw: The target allocation for the North Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT) for 2009-10, as determined by the weighted capitation formula is 1,103 million. The actual allocation the PCT will receive in 2009-10 is 1,077 million. The North Yorkshire and York PCT will be 2.4 per cent. under target in 2010-11.
	The funding formula is used to determine PCTs' target allocations. Actual allocations to PCTs depend also on pace of change policyhow additional funding is distributed to move PCTs towards their target allocations. It is therefore not possible to say what actual allocations would have been in 2008-09 under the terms of the funding formula adopted in 2009-10.

NHS: Professional Discretion

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review each directive which have been issued by his Department to  (a) primary care trusts,  (b) NHS hospital trusts,  (c) other NHS trusts and  (d) strategic health authorities and remains in force in order to establish the scope for extending professional discretion.

Ann Keen: The Government's strategy for empowering national health service staff, giving them the freedom to use their talents to drive up quality, was set out in the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, published last summer. The measures set out in the report are now being taken forward in discussion with the service.

Obesity

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect on the Government's obesity reduction strategy of the inclusion of specially-formulated, very low diet products within the category of foods which are liable for value added tax at the standard rate; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Secretary of State for Health has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. All taxes are kept under review and are a matter for the Chancellor.

Obesity: Surgery

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what designated centres for obesity surgery have been approved by the NHS's specialised commissioning groups in  (a) the West Midlands,  (b) London,  (c) East of England,  (d) the North East,  (e) the North West,  (f) South Central,  (g) the South East Coast,  (h) the South West,  (i) Yorkshire and Humber and  (j) the East Midlands.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not collect this data.

Pests

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of  (a) collecting information on pest vectors and  (b) developing capacity to identify pest-related risks in the urban environment.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department considers that there is merit in a 'risk-based' approach to gathering information on pest vectors, and we have in place in England (and across the United Kingdom) the necessary capability to identify and assess the risks posed by pest vectors in the urban environment, together with the appropriate infrastructure and capacity for a coordinated approach to the control and management of such risks.

Pregnancy: Costs

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost to the NHS was of providing services to expectant mothers aged  (a) under 18 and  (b) 18 years or over throughout their pregnancies in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1027W.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conditions provide grounds for exemption from prescription charges; when the list of such conditions was  (a) first established and  (b) last revised; and whether he expects further revisions to be made to the list in 2009.

Dawn Primarolo: The original list of medical conditions that give exemption from prescription charges was introduced in 1968. Treatment for cancer has been inserted into the regulations as a new condition entitling people to exemption from prescription charges; this amendment will come into force on 1 April 2009. Otherwise, the qualifying criteria for medical exemptions has not been revised since 1968. This fulfils the Prime Minister's commitment that cancer patients would be exempted from prescription charges from 2009.
	The Government have also set out their intention to abolish prescription charges for people with long term conditions over the next few years. The President of the Royal College of Physicians (Professor Ian Gilmore) has been asked to carry out a review of prescription charges that will consider how to implement this commitment. The review is due to reports its recommendations to departmental Ministers in summer 2009.

Pressure Sores

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded complaints about pressure sores were made to  (a) hospitals,  (b) primary care trusts and  (c) strategic health authorities in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Primary Care Trusts: Manpower

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average staff-to-patient ratio in primary care trusts is; and what the ratio is for Wirral Primary Care Trust.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Hillingdon

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with each category of sexually-transmitted infection in the London Borough of Hillingdon in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The data are not available in the format requested. Data are only available on the number of diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics and only available by strategic health authority (SHA). The following table gives the number of diagnoses of new STIs in GUM in the London SHA between 2003 and 2007, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Primary and secondary infectious syphilis 731 852 889 821 972 
			 Uncomplicated gonorrhoea 8,862 7,688 6,687 6,452 6,783 
			 Uncomplicated genital Chlamydia 20,330 20,698 21,215 20,734 22,793 
			 Anogenital herpes simplex: 1(st) attack 5,014 4,825 4,859 5,233 6,149 
			 Anogenital warts: 1(st) attack 12,618 13,112 12,713 13,070 14,224 
			  Notes: 1. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for diagnoses made in GUM clinics only. Diagnoses made in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. 2. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. 3. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data. 4. Data are unavailable for 2008.  Source: Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns. 
		
	
	In addition to STIs diagnosed in a GUM clinic, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) provides Chlamydia screening to asymptomatic people under the age of 25 years in England. The NCSP was launched in 2003, when a phased implementation started. The following table shows the number of diagnoses made of Chlamydia in patients between the ages of 15-24 years between April 2003 and December 2008 in London SHA and Hillingdon PCT.
	
		
			  Area  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 London SHA 185 1,711 2,580 3,553 4,201 7,668 
			 Hillingdon PCT (1) (1) 19 40 30 150 
			 (1) Cell size of 1 to 4 has been masked to protect deductive disclosure in accordance with Office for National Statistics guidelines.  Notes: 1. The NCSP has been phased in since 2003 with all 152 PCTs reporting data to the programme since March 2008. Therefore note that number of diagnoses have risen substantially as an increasing proportion of the target population have been tested. 2. NSCP data are presented by PCT of residence. 3. The data from the NCSP Core Dataset are for Chlamydia screens conducted within the NCSP outside of GUM clinics only. 4. The data available from the NCSP are the number of diagnoses made and not the number of patients diagnosed. 5. Data includes Chlamydia tests for males, females and those with unknown/unspecified sex. 6. Data presented are based on tests with confirmed positive diagnoses only.  Source: National Chlamydia Screening Programme Core Dataset.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus was in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Thalidomide: Disability Aids

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people affected adversely by thalidomide have been provided with assistance dogs.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally. Assistance dogs for the disabled are provided through voluntary sector organisations.

Tuberculosis: Health Services

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission an independent external assessment of NHS strategy in respect of services for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.

Dawn Primarolo: The Chief Medical Officer's Action Plan for tuberculosis (TB) was launched in October 2004, and the Department published a Toolkit in June 2007 to help the national health service to implement the key points of the action plan through effective commissioning and delivery of services, and this was backed up with a series of regional workshops for commissioners, public health professionals and clinical staff. The Toolkit recommends that TB services should always follow the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines, published in March 2006, when treating patients. As an independent body, NICE reviewed available evidence to make recommendations on best clinical practice.
	The Healthcare Commission (Care Quality Commission from 1 April 2009) is an independent body which assesses how the NHS implements delivery of services, including TB services, and whether best clinical practice as set out by NICE, is followed, as part of its Annual Health Check of NHS organisations. Changes in TB services in the NHS will take time to come into operation and it is too early to assess the impact of the action plan or whether the targets are being achieved.

Tuberculosis: Health Services

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place for the monitoring and evaluation of services provided for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB); and what steps are taken when primary care trusts do not provide adequate TB services.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published their clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB), and measures for its prevention and control, in March 2006. The Department published a Toolkit in June 2007 to help the national health service to implement the key points of the Chief Medical Officer's Action Plan Stopping Tuberculosis in England (October 2004) through effective commissioning and delivery of services. A copy of the plan has been placed in the Library. The Toolkit also recommends that TB services should always follow the NICE clinical guidelines when diagnosing and treating patients with TB.
	The Healthcare Commission (Care Quality Commission from 1 April 2009), as part of its Annual Health Check of NHS organisations, monitors the implementation of NICE guidelines and assesses how the NHS implements delivery of services, including TB services. The organisation and running of local services are matters for local NHS management. Primary care trusts are responsible for procuring TB services to fit their local demography and incidence of TB in their area, and ensuring that those standards are monitored, met and reviewed as part of the commissioning process.

Tuberculosis: Health Services

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of progress on prevention of tuberculosis in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what his Department's priority milestones are for reducing the incidence of tuberculosis in England in the next 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The Chief Medical Officer's Action Plan Stopping Tuberculosis in England, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, sets out our aim of reducing the risk of people being newly infected with tuberculosis (TB) in England. Early detection of cases and completion of treatment are both necessary to reduce the number of new cases. In order to achieve this, the Department has provided guidance and tools to help the national health service commission TB services best suited to local needs, and deliver services according to best practice.
	The Department is funding complementary work to raise awareness of TB among health care professionals and groups within the population at increased risk of TB. In addition, the Department continues to fund specific interventions aimed at improving TB control, such as the Find and Treat programme in London, which helps local TB services improve active case finding and completion of treatment, and will make the evaluations available to the NHS.
	The number of cases of TB, and the rates of TB per 100,000 population for England are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   TB cases  TB rates 
			 2006 7,862 15.5 
			 2007 (latest confirmed data) 7,742 15.2

Vaccination

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor the incidence of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after vaccination.

Dawn Primarolo: Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an extremely rare neurological condition thought to be caused by a range of viral infections. Although ADEM has been reported in temporal association with several vaccines, there is a lack of good scientific evidence to show that routine vaccination is causally-associated with ADEM.
	As with all pharmaceutical products used in the United Kingdom, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) keeps the safety of vaccines under close review. This includes monitoring reports of suspected adverse reactions (ADRs), spontaneously provided by health professionals and patients through the 'Yellow Card Scheme'. Since 1968, the MHRA has received 10 Yellow Card reports of suspected ADEM in association with vaccinations given in the UK (see following table). Many millions of people have been exposed to these vaccines over this time period and the benefits far outweigh the risks.
	It is important to bear in mind that reports submitted via the 'Yellow Card Scheme' relate only to suspicions that a vaccine or medicine may have caused a medical condition. Reports may also relate to coincidental events due to underlying or undiagnosed illness. Such reports are therefore not proof of a causal association. It is also not possible to ascertain the number of people who may have suffered an adverse event following vaccination using data from the Yellow Card Scheme. This is because reporting is voluntary and the level of under-reporting is unknown. For these reasons, it is not possible to assess the number of cases of ADEM following vaccination using the Yellow Card Scheme.
	
		
			  Reports of ADEM in association with vaccines 
			  Vaccine  Number of Yellow Card reports 
			 Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis (wholecell) 1 
			 Hepatitis A vaccine 1 
			 Influenza vaccine 1 
			 Japanese encephalitis vaccine 1 
			 Measles and rubella vaccine 1 
			 Meningococcal vaccine 1 
			 Rabies vaccine 1 
			 Typhoid vaccine 2 
			 Pneumococcal vaccine 1

Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made for the employment, pay and conditions of community health workers employed by Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust following its conversion to a purely commissioning organisation.

Ann Keen: On 1 April 2009, Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust (PCT) became one of the first PCTs in England to take the step to become a solely commissioning organisation. The Waltham Forest community services have transferred to Outer North East London Community Services which has been formed by bringing together the provider arms of Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Havering PCTs. We are advised by London Strategic Health Authority that all staff have been transferred into Outer North East London Community Services on their existing terms and conditions of service.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Relations: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was provided to each London local authority for community cohesion projects in the last period for which figures are available.

Sadiq Khan: From April 2008 cohesion funding forms part of an authority's Area Based Grant, and was allocated directly to those authorities in greatest need. Authorities have the flexibility to use this funding as they see fit enabling them to decide where best to invest their resources in the most effective and efficient routes to delivering local priorities.
	
		
			  Allocations for London local authorities in 2008-09 
			   Funding ( ) 
			 Greenwich 26,471 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 26,471 
			 Tower Hamlets 49,412 
			 Barking and Dagenham 116,471 
			 Bexley 26,471 
			 Croydon 26,471 
			 Ealing 26,471 
			 Havering 49,412 
			 Hillingdon 49,412 
			 Hounslow 26,471 
			 Newham 72,353 
			 Redbridge 49,412 
			 Waltham Forest 26,471

Council Housing: Rents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1171-72W, on council housing: rents, if she will make it her policy to fund fully the cost of halving the guideline rent increase for local authority tenants for each participating local authority; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We would expect those councils that decide to reduce their rents would pass in full the impact of halving of the guideline rent increase, with the compensating subsidy adjustment, to council tenants. The Department has written to local authorities outlining the next steps in the process. We would expect councils to be able to cover their costs from their housing revenue account allowances.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Arms-Length Bodies in Finance Network event on 4 December 2008;
	(2)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to the meeting of the Regional Ministers Economic Delivery Group on 8 December 2008;
	(3)  the cost of her Department's Housing and Planning Expert Panels Seminar held on 26 September 2008 was, broken down by category of expenditure;
	(4)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Regional Ministers Economic Delivery Group held on 17 November 2008; and if she will provide a breakdown of the costs;
	(5)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Housing Roundtable seminar held on 26 and 27 February 2009;
	(6)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Regeneration in Recession seminar held on 18 February 2009;
	(7)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Regional Minister Economic Delivery Group meeting on 9 February 2009;
	(8)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme development workshop held on 5 February 2009;
	(9)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Planning and the Economy workshop held on 28 January 2009;
	(10)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Migration and Economic Downturn seminar held on 23 January 2009;
	(11)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its Home Builders Federation seminar held on 7 January 2009;
	(12)  what expenditure under what budgetary headings her Department incurred in relation to its regional improvement efficiency partnerships worklessness event held on 24 November 2008.

Sadiq Khan: The total expenditure for these 12 events is listed in the following table. These cover refreshments on the day of the event, travel for some of the invitees or speakers and room hire where events were hosted externally.
	
		
			  Summits, conferences and seminars on the economic situation hosted by Communities and Local Government since January 2008 
			  Date held  Title  Description  Cost ()  Budget headings 
			 26 September 2008 Analysis Week - Housing and Planning Expert Panels Seminar Series of short presentations on how housing and planning mitigates against economic downturns  past successes and failures, international comparisons, short and long term options 10,976 Speakers 
			234 Hospitality 
			  
			 17 November 2008 Regional Ministers Economic Delivery Group Membership and TOR; Current Economic Climate and Impact on Region; Regional Update by EDG Group members; Infrastructure/Capital projects  setting out criteria for regional priorities 20 Hospitality 
			 24 November 2008 RIEP - Worklessness event Joint workshop between GOYH and Local Government Yorkshire and the Humber (RIEP funding), to share good practice and for local partners to network. A presentation on the current economic climate and update on the Houghton Review was followed by workshops on what was happening in local economies and what needed to be done. 325 Hospitality 
			850 Facilitation 
			  
			 4 December 2008 Arms-Length bodies in Finance Networking Event Networking event for senior finance managers in Communities and Local Government and it's arms-length bodies looking at the impact of the current economic climate on business areas 366 Hospitality 
			 8 December 2008 Regional Ministers Economic Delivery Group Regional Intelligence Report; Pre Budget Report; Housing in Yorkshire and the Humber; Tackling Rising Unemployment; Communications Plan 20 Hospitality 
			 7 January 2009 Home Builders Federation Seminar Purpose of the seminar was to facilitate a wider stakeholder discussion about the house-building sector with a particular focus on the impact of new regulations on the sector. 156 Hospitality 
			 23 January 2009 Migration and the Economic Downturn Seminar Seminar focusing on: (i) the impacts of the economic downturn on international migration into the UK and (ii) The potential impacts on regional economic performance of a fall in net migration 98 Hospitality 
			 28 January 2009 Planning and the Economy Workshop Joint CLG/Whitehall in Industry Group (WIG) workshop focussing on what the land use planning system can do to aid economic recovery; on mitigating the effects of climate change; and on delivering truly sustainable development. 990 Delegate costs 
			975 Hospitality 
			  
			 5 February 2009 Homeowners Mortgage Support scheme -development workshop One day workshop with lenders and money advice agencies to agree the implementation plans for the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme 8,200 Hospitality and Room Hire 
			 9 February 2009 Regional Ministers Economic Delivery Group Regional intelligence Report; Regional response to redundancies; Business Support Measures; Public Sector Capital Investment 919 Hospitality and Room Hire 
			 18 February 2009 Regeneration in Recession Internal seminar with Professor Ian Gordon and Professor Henry Overman from the Spatial Economic Research Centre, to discuss the spatial implications of the recession and whether the core principles underpinning the government's approach to regeneration were still fit for purpose 0  
			 26 February 2009 Housing Roundtable Seminar examining housing markets and the downturn 340 Travel 
			 27 February 2009 Housing Roundtable Seminar examining housing markets and the downturn 81 Hospitality

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in her Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and which organisations provided such training.

Sadiq Khan: Training is provided to Ministers as necessary in order to carry out their duties effectively under the Ministerial Code.

Eco-towns: St. Austell

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding the promoters of the St Austell eco-town development have applied for under the Community Infrastructure Fund; and when a decision on the application is expected.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 27 March 2009,  Official Report, column 29WS in which I and my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport announced the funding being made available from the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). This lists the projects that were successful in securing funding from CIF. Private sector promoters, such as those leading the St. Austell eco-town proposal are not eligible to bid into this scheme.

Fire Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many road traffic accidents which resulted in a person requiring extrication from a vehicle the Fire and Rescue Service attended in  (a) each fire authority area and  (b) each region in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: The number of road traffic collisions attended by each Fire and Rescue Service where people were extricated from vehicles are shown in the table for each of the last three years and with regional totals.
	
		
			  Road traffic incidents attended with extrications of persons from vehicles 
			  Fire and rescue authority  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 England(1) 10,006 9,336 9,350 
			 Cleveland 69 59 70 
			 County Durham and Darlington 140 137 140 
			 Northumberland 69 63 54 
			 Tyne and Wear 115 116 137 
			 
			 North West 1,034 982 938 
			 Cheshire 209 180 150 
			 Cumbria 102 131 104 
			 Greater Manchester 295 282 288 
			 Lancashire 278 258 270 
			 Merseyside 150 131 126 
			 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 882 813 923 
			 Humberside 162 158 266 
			 North Yorkshire 152 152 161 
			 South Yorkshire 218 203 199 
			 West Yorkshire 350 300 297 
			 
			 East Midlands 1,041 941 990 
			 Derbyshire 209 200 193 
			 Leicestershire 249 207 211 
			 Lincolnshire 230 226 227 
			 Northamptonshire 138 152 160 
			 Nottinghamshire 215 156 199 
			 
			 West Midlands 11,078 10,220 10,076 
			 Hereford and Worcester 230 243 243 
			 Shropshire 106 100 84 
			 Staffordshire 216 224 243 
			 Warwickshire 181 173 146 
			 West Midlands 335 373 326 
			 
			 East of England 1,531 1,185 1,417 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 120 119 122 
			 Cambridgeshire 244 218 244 
			 Essex 492 154 375 
			 Hertfordshire 159 129 175 
			 Norfolk 350 366 339 
			 Suffolk 166 199 162 
			 
			 London 1,166 1,117 1,078 
			 
			 South East(1) 1,677 1,661 1,392 
			 Buckinghamshire 183 178 184 
			 East Sussex 153 175 243 
			 Hampshire(1) 364 327 (2) 
			 Isle of Wight 30 23 25 
			 Kent 308 326 315 
			 Oxfordshire 111 107 140 
			 Royal Berkshire 128 142 118 
			 Surrey 224 186 189 
			 West Sussex 176 197 178 
			 
			 South West 1,214 1,149 1,169 
			 Avon 189 183 167 
			 Cornwall 160 84 103 
			 Devon(3) 193 207  
			 Devon and Somerset(3)   363 
			 Dorset 153 166 180 
			 Gloucestershire 168 152 158 
			 Somerset(3) 152 127  
			 Wiltshire 199 230 198 
			 (1) Data for 2007-08 not provided by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (2) NP (3) Prior to 2007-08 Devon and Somerset existed as separate Fire and Rescue Services

Fire Services: Injuries

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many major injuries were sustained by firefighters in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in each year of the last 10 years.

Sadiq Khan: The numbers of injuries sustained by fire fighters in Eastbourne and East Sussex in each of the last 10 years which were reportable under the Health and Safety Executive's Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 are shown in the tables.
	
		
			  (a)  RIDDOR( 1)  reportable injuries to firefighters, Eastbourne 
			   Number of 'over 3 day' injuries( 2)  Number of major( 3)  injuries  Number of fatal injuries 
			 1999-2000 2 1 0 
			 2000-01 3 0 0 
			 2001-02 4 0 0 
			 2002-03 4 0 0 
			 2003-04 9 0 0 
			 2004-05 4 1 0 
			 2005-06 2 1 0 
			 2006-07 2 0 0 
			 2007-08 2 0 0 
			 (1 )Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) (2 )Injuries which are not classified as 'major' but as a result of which an individual was off work or unable to do their full range of normal duties for more than three days (3 )Reportable major injuries include fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes, and dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine.  Source:  East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) RIDDOR( 1)  reportable injuries to firefighters, East Sussex 
			   Number of 'over 3 day' injuries( 2)  Number of major injuries  Number of fatal injuries 
			 1999-2000 34 3 0 
			 2000-01 17 6 0 
			 2001-02 25 0 0 
			 2002-03 19 2 0 
			 2003-04 31 2 0 
			 2004-05 13 1 0 
			 2005-06 11 4 0 
			 2006-07 12 1 1 
			 2007-08 14 2 0 
			 (1 )Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) (2 )Injuries which are not classified as 'major' but as a result of which an individual was off work or unable to do their full range of normal duties for more than three days (3 )Reportable major injuries include fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes, and dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine.  Source:  East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Gardens

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the review of the brownfield designation of garden land to be completed; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: During the progress of the Planning Act 2008, the Government committed to review the evidence on the extent and impact of housing development on garden land in order to establish whether there was a genuine problem. This commitment was undertaken in the absence of firm evidence that a problem existed.
	We propose to establish the amount of housing development on garden land, which at present cannot be distinguished from other land classified as previously-residential in the Land Use Change Statistics, such as estate regeneration or conversions.
	The review will take place in two stages. The first stage will involve obtaining data directly from local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate. My Department will write to local planning authorities in England requesting data on the number of planning permissions granted or refused (including the outcomes of any associated appeals), from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2008, for housing development within the curtilage of an existing dwelling housebut only where these permissions have, or will, result in a net increase in dwellings within the existing curtilage.
	We have worked with the Planning Officers' Society and the Central Local Information Partnership in designing the process of data collection for the review to ensure it as straightforward for local authorities as possible.
	We will exclude from the review details of regeneration or renewal schemes, as these could seriously distort the data. We will also exclude extensions to properties, as these do not lead to an increase in dwellings, and conversions, as these do not generally lead to a loss of land.
	Authorities will also be asked to provide a commentary on the development plan policies they rely on to determine these type of applications, and information on whether they have identified gardens (either individually or through the identification of a broad location), through the plan led system, for future development.
	Local authorities will also be given the opportunity to say whether garden development is or is not an issue for them in their area and why.
	As part of the first stage we will also ask the Planning Inspectorate to provide information on the appeal decisions highlighted by planning authorities, to help establish the principal reasons why the decisions were granted.
	For the second stage of the review, we will seek external analysis of the data collected from the first stage to determine the impact of the development. This will probably focus on a subset of authorities which will need to include authorities from each region, and an even mix of large and small authorities in both urban and rural areas. We will publish further details of the second stage of the review at the time. Subject to the response rate we receive to stage one of the review, our aim is to conclude the second stage by the summer.
	The purpose of the review is to ascertain if there is clear and genuine problem with the extent of development on gardens. We are committed to considering action if the evidence discloses a problem, provided that any changes should not have the effect of undermining our objectives on housing.
	We shall also be writing separately to Opposition spokespersons and hon. Members in England to bring the details of the review to their attention.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies spent on  (a) renovation and  (b) decoration in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has existed since 1 December 2008, and is responsible to Parliament for ensuring public funds are properly used. They are also subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office and every year their annual report and accounts will be laid before Parliament.
	Final audited information for the HCA for the year ending 31 March 2009 will be available after the end of the financial year.
	The predecessor bodies for the HCA were English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of programmes previously delivered by Communities and Local Government (CLG) also transferred to the agency.
	Spend by predecessor bodies for the Housing Corporation and English Partnership on renovation and decoration is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  000 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Housing Corporation 130 96 40 
			 English Partnership 660 450 288 
		
	
	The Academy for Sustainable Communities did not incur any expenditure on these items. The spend that related to CLG programmes that transferred to the agency cannot be disaggregated.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much the  (a) Homes and Communities Agency and  (b) Tenants Service Authority have spent on (i) signage and (ii) stationery since their inception;
	(2)  how much  (a) the Homes and Communities Agency and  (b) the Tenants Service Authority have spent on media monitoring since their inception;
	(3)  how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on branding since its inception; and which companies were contracted to provide branding services.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the HCA and TSA's spend on signage and stationery, media monitoring and branding since their inception.
	
		
			  000 
			   HCA  TSA 
			 Signage 94 15 
			 Stationery 99 17 
			 Media Monitoring 6 11 
			 Branding 54 (1) 
			 (1) For TSA branding costs I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 784W. 
		
	
	The development of the HCA brand was delivered through the Central Office of Information.
	The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), and Tenants Service Authority (TSA) are responsible to Parliament for ensuring public funds are properly used. They are also subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office and every year their annual report and accounts will be laid before Parliament.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the  (a) Tenants Service Authority and  (b) Homes and Communities Agency have spent on public affairs consultancy since their establishment.

Margaret Beckett: Since their establishment the TSA, to date, have been invoiced for approximately 68,000 and the HCA nil. The HCA and TSA are responsible to Parliament for ensuring public funds are properly used. They are also subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office and every year their Annual Report and Accounts will be laid before Parliament.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the Housing Revenue Account's annual income was derived from rent  (a) from dwellings and  (b) sources other than dwellings in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The proportion of income since 1997 in England from rents and other sources is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Financial year  Rent from dwellings  Income from land and non-dwelling buildings etc.  Income from services provided by authority 
			 1997-98 93.81 2.41 3.78 
			 1998-99 93.63 2.40 3.97 
			 1999-2000 93.60 2.57 3.83 
			 2000-01 93.17 2.62 4.20 
			 2001-02 92.94 2.69 4.37 
			 2002-03 92.27 2.77 4.97 
			 2003-04 91.34 2.78 5.88 
			 2004-05 89.67 2.81 7.51 
			 2005-06 89.65 2.81 7.54 
			 2006-07 89.57 2.79 7.64 
			 2007-08 89.11 2.73 8.16 
		
	
	This information is drawn from information provided by local authorities in year for Housing Revenue Account subsidy purposes.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure under what main budget headings was incurred on the spending on supervision and management out of the Housing Revenue Account for the last financial year for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Details for 2007-08 (the latest year for which we have figures) are shown in the following table.
	
		
			
			 Supervision, Management and MaintenanceGeneral management(1) 1,672,300,202 
			 Supervision, Management and MaintenanceSpecial services to tenants (gross expenditure) 715,655,298 
			 Supervision, Management and MaintenanceRepairs and maintenance 1,536,023,119 
			 (1 )Excludes rent rebate administration, which is accounted for in the General Fund. 
		
	
	This information is drawn from information provided by local authorities in year for Housing Revenue Account subsidy purposes.

Housing: Construction

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government is on target to meet its aspiration of building three million new homes by 2020; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Housing Green Paper, Homes for the Future: more affordable, more sustainable, published in July 2007, set out the Government's ambition to increase housing supply.
	The Government recognise that the current financial and economic conditions will make the achievement of their housing supply targets extremely challenging. But despite the difficult economic and financial conditions, long-term pressures on housing supply and affordability remain. We therefore remain committed to doing all we can to meet long-term demand and need for housing.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much she expects her Department to spend on the MyChoiceHomeBuy scheme in 2009-10;
	(2)  how much she expects her Department to spend on the OwnHome scheme in 2009-10.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 68W and 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 218W.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average price of a property purchased with assistance from the First Time Buyers Initiative has been; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: To date, the average price of a home purchased under the FTBI programme is 186,000. This covers the period from the first purchase in December 2006 up to the end of February 2009.

Local Government Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been provided to local authorities to support their work in helping eastern European migrants to return home or to find work in each year since 2004-05.

Margaret Beckett: In recognition of pressures on homelessness services caused by rough sleeping by Eastern European migrants, there has been additional funding to local authorities since 2004-05 as follows:
	257,000 Home Office Invest to Save funding to Westminster up to March 2006.
	2006-07240,000 additional CLG Homelessness Grant funding to some London boroughs.
	2007-08107,000 Home Office funding for Westminster's continuing work with A8s.
	2008-09360,000 additional CLG Homelessness grant funding to some London boroughs.
	This funding has been used to help tackle destitution among eastern European migrants and includes measures such as helping people return home or to find work. This is an important strand of our work towards ending rough sleeping by 2012 given that destitute A10 nationals are over-represented among rough sleepers.
	In addition there has been 200,000 CLG funding to Homeless Link, the national umbrella organisation for the voluntary sector for 2007-082008-09, to co-ordinate work around Eastern European rough sleeping in London.
	Communities and Local Government is investing 200 million through local authorities and the voluntary sector to tackle homelessness including rough sleeping.

Local Government Finance: Disadvantaged

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the likely effect on local authority expenditure of the proposed new duty for public authorities to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	In the New Opportunities white paper in January, the Government proposed
	a new strategic duty on central departments and key public services to address the inequality that arises from socioeconomic disadvantage.
	In line with that proposal, the Government have since been consulting a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities, to determine how such a duty might be best designed and implemented, and what implementation costs, if any, might be involved.
	No decisions have yet been made in regard to the proposed duty, and the discussions with key stakeholders are ongoing.

National Housing and Planning Advice Unit

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit's board in the last 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: The discussions had at NHPAU Board meetings were held in confidence and relate to advice to Ministers. The NHPAU will be publishing summaries of board discussions and outcomes of meetings on its website as a matter of course in the near future.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the Transitional Relief Scheme is not to be renewed; what assessment she has made of the effect on small businesses of the discontinuation of the scheme; and what representations she has received on the matter from representatives of businesses.

John Healey: The 2005 transitional relief scheme was introduced as part of the 2005 business rate revaluation and was limited in regulations to four years. The reasons for adopting a four year scheme were set out in the consultation document National Non Domestic Rates Transitional Arrangements: Consultation, August 2004. The effect on businesses was set out in a regulatory impact assessment on the regulations published at the same time. We have received a number of representations from businesses and local authorities on rate bills for 2009-10. The next revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2010 and include anew transitional arrangements scheme.
	As the Government announced on 31 March, those businesses facing an increase in their business rates bill for 2009-10 as a result of the end of transitional relief will be able to defer payment of 60 per cent. of their increase until 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Railways: East of England

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will have discussions with the Department for Transport on the implications for regional spatial and economic strategies of the proposed East-West rail project.

Iain Wright: Officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport have, and will continue to hold, regular discussions on the development of regional strategies and both the east of England and the south-east of England Government offices will continue to discuss this proposal with relevant Departments and stakeholders.
	The Government office for the south-east has engaged in ongoing discussions with the Department for Transport in preparing the proposed changes to the south-east regional spatial strategy.

Regional Spatial Strategies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers she has in respect of the  (a) amendment and  (b) revocation of regional spatial strategies.

Iain Wright: The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) provides the Secretary of State with powers to [amendments in brackets]:
	 Amendment of RSS
	Section 9 (3) states:
	If after proceeding under subsection (1) or (2) the Secretary of State proposes to make any changes to the draft [s]he must publish
	(a) the changes [s]he proposes to make;
	(b) [her] his reasons for doing so.
	Section 9 (6) states:
	The Secretary of State must then publish
	(a) the revision of the RSS incorporating such changes as [s]he thinks fit;
	(b) [her]his reasons for making the changes.
	 Revocation of RSS
	Section 10 (5) states:
	If the Secretary of State thinks it necessary or expedient to do so [s]he may at any time revoke
	(a) an RSS;
	(b) such parts of an RSS as [s]he thinks appropriate.

Rented Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) local authority tenants and  (b) housing association tenants there are in each local authority area in England.

Iain Wright: Figures are recorded as social housing stock rather than tenants.
	Information on local authority (LA) owned housing stock is collected from local authorities on the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) return. This information is recorded as at 1 April and is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 116:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140882.xls
	Information on registered social landlord's (RSL) stock is collected through the Tenant Services Authority's Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) and is recorded as at 31 March.
	A table showing LA housing stock and RSL housing stock in each local authority area in England has been deposited in the Library. Information is for 2008, the most recent year available.
	Figures for RSLs are for social housing stock owned in England only and include general needs, supported housing and housing for older people accommodation. Both self-contained units and bed spaces are included because a split for local authority areas is not available.

Sheltered Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many sheltered housing schemes have employed a  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time warden in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect data on numbers of wardens employed in Sheltered Housing Schemes. The provision of non statutory sheltered housing schemes and the employment of wardens within those schemes is a matter for local authorities and other providers of Sheltered Housing.

Social Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average social housing monthly rent has been in each year since 1997 at 2008-09 prices.

Iain Wright: Average rent data are collected as weekly average rent rather than monthly average rent. Average rent data are collected from local authorities on the HRA second advance subsidy form. Stock figures from the HRA second base form are used to calculate weighted averages at county, regional and national level.
	Registered social landlord (RSL) average rents data are provided by the Tenants Services Authority collected via the annual Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR). Data are not available for 2008-09. These data are available on the CLG website in live table 703:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141440.xls.

Social Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average central government subsidy per social housing tenant was in each region in each year since 1997 at 2008-09 prices.

Iain Wright: This information is not held by the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Social Rented Housing: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of her Department's social rented programme budget for 2010-11 has been brought forward for use in 2008-09 and 2009-10; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 78W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to answer Question 245558, tabled on 18 December 2008, on Government plans to promote the UK as a standard setter for Islamic studies outside the Islamic world.

Sadiq Khan: Question 245558 was transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on 12 January 2009 with the agreement of that Department.